1
遷補之制
Regulations on Promotion and Appointment
2
自殿前、侍衛馬步軍校，每遇大禮後，各以次遷，謂之「轉員」。 轉員至軍都指揮使，又遷則遙領刺史，又遷為廂都指揮使，遙領團練使。 員溢，即從上罷軍職，為正團練使、刺史之本任，或有他州總管、鈐轄。 其老疾若過失者，為御前忠佐馬軍都軍頭、副都軍頭，隸軍頭司。 其黜，則為外州馬步軍都指揮使。 凡軍主闕，以軍都指揮使遞遷； 餘闕，以諸軍都虞候、指揮使、副指揮使、行首、軍使、副行首、副兵馬使、十將遞遷。 凡將校，一軍營止補十人，其廂都指揮使、軍都指揮使、都虞候、指揮使，營主其一，即闕其三。 殿前左右班都虞候遙領刺史，即與捧日軍都指揮使通，以次遷捧日、龍衛廂都指揮使，仍遙領團練使。 若員溢，即為正刺史補外，他如諸軍例遞遷。
Among officers of the Palace Front Command and the Imperial Bodyguard horse and foot forces, after every major state ceremony each man advanced in seniority order in what was termed a "rank rotation." After rotating up to army commander, the next step was a titular prefectship; beyond that one became a division commander while holding a titular regimental training commission. When the roster was overfilled, men were released from active command and assigned substantive posts as regimental training commissioners or prefects, or occasionally as circuit commanders or supervisory commissioners elsewhere. Men who were old, infirm, or guilty of misconduct were placed as chief or deputy chief of the Imperial Front Loyal Assistants Horse Detachment under the Army Chiefs Office. Those removed from the capital ranks were posted as horse-and-foot commanders in the provinces. Whenever an army commander's billet fell vacant, the post was filled by successive promotion from among army commanders-in-chief. All other openings were filled in turn from the ranks of army adjutants, company commanders, deputy commanders, platoon leaders, battalion officers, deputy platoon leaders, deputy horse-and-arms officers, and squad sergeants. Only ten officers per army camp could be appointed at a time; because each camp might contribute just one man toward the four senior grades of division commander, army commander, adjutant, and company commander, three of those posts would typically go unfilled. Palace Front left- and right-platoon adjutants who held titular prefectships were then paired with the Sun-Bearing Army commander and promoted in sequence to division command of the Sun-Bearing and Dragon Guard corps, still on a titular regimental training commission. When the roster was full they received substantive prefectships and were posted abroad; all others advanced by the usual rotation rules of their corps.
3
凡列校轉補，有司先閱走躍、上下馬； 次出指二十步，掩一目試之，左右各五占數為見物。 武藝，弓射五斗，弩廣一石五斗，槍刀手稍練。 負罪不至徒，年未高，或雖年高而無疾、精力不耗者，並取之。
Before any company-grade officer could be promoted, the responsible office first tested his running and leaping and his skill at mounting and dismounting. Next an examiner held up a finger twenty paces off while the candidate covered one eye; he had to identify it within five counts on each side to pass the vision test. In arms he had to draw a bow of five dou, span a crossbow of one shi five dou, and show reasonable skill with spear or blade. Men were accepted if their offenses did not rise to penal servitude, if they were not yet elderly, or if though older they were free of illness and still vigorous.
4
凡諸軍轉員後，取殿前指揮使長入祗候填行門，取東西班長入祗候、殿侍、諸班直充諸班押班、諸軍將校者，皆親閱。 前一日，命入內都知或押班一人、勾當御藥院內侍一人，同軍頭引見司較定弓弩鬪力，標誌之。 凡弓弩藝等者，人占其一。 至日，引見，弓弩列置殿前，命取一以射。 軍頭引見司專視喝箭以奏。 如喝失當，即奏改正。 入內都知或押班同勾當御藥院內侍殿上察視，如引見司不覺舉，亦奏改正。 槍刀手竭勝負，若喝不以實，並引見司失覺舉，並劾其罪。
After each army rotation, the emperor personally inspected every man selected—from Palace Front company commanders posted to Inner Attendance and the Gate Corps, and from Eastern and Western platoon commanders assigned to Inner Attendance, palace service, duty platoons, and field commands. The day before, he directed an Inner Palace director or platoon lead and a eunuch of the Imperial Pharmacy, together with the Army Chiefs Presentation Office, to fix and mark each candidate's bow and crossbow draw weights. Each candidate was assigned to one grade of bow or crossbow skill. On the day of presentation, bows and crossbows were lined up before the throne and each man was told to take one and shoot. The Army Chiefs Presentation Office alone monitored the called score and reported it to the throne. If the announced score was wrong, they at once reported a correction. An Inner Palace director or platoon lead and the Imperial Pharmacy eunuch watched from the dais; if the Presentation Office missed an error, they too reported it for correction. Spear and blade men fought to a finish; anyone who called the result falsely, or whom the Presentation Office failed to catch, was charged with an offense.
5
太平興國九年，上詣崇政殿轉改諸軍將校，自軍都指揮使以下、員僚以上，皆按名籍驗勞績而陞陟之，凡數日而畢。 內外感悅。 乃謂宰臣等曰：「朕遷轉軍員，先取其循謹能御下者，武勇次之。 若不自謹飭，則其下不畏憚，雖有一夫之勇，亦何所用！」
In Taiping Xingguo 9 the emperor went to Chongzheng Hall to rotate officers of every corps; from army commanders down through the staff grades, each man's register and service record were checked before promotion or demotion, and the work took several days. Court and camp alike were gratified. He then told his chief ministers: "When I rotate army officers, I look first for men who are disciplined and can control their troops; raw courage comes second. If a man cannot keep himself in order, his men will not fear him—and what good is individual bravery then?"
6
咸平三年五月，上御便殿遷補軍職，凡十一日而畢。 自神衛右第二軍都指揮使、恩州刺史周訓而下，遞遷者千三十一人。
In the fifth month of Xianping 3 the emperor held promotion sessions in the side hall and finished the roster in eleven days. Starting with Zhou Xun, commander of the second right Divine Guard Army and titular prefect of Enzhou, 1,031 men were advanced in succession.
7
四年十二月，帝謂呂蒙正曰：「選眾求才，誠非易事。 朕常孜孜詢訪，冀有所得。 向求於軍校中，超擢八九人，委以方任，其間王能、魏能頗甚宣力，陳興、張禹珪亦有能名。」 蒙正等曰：「才難求備。 今拔十得五，有以見陛下知臣之明也。」
In the twelfth month of year 4 the emperor said to Lü Mengzheng: "Picking talent from a large pool is no easy task. I keep searching diligently in the hope of finding someone worthwhile. Not long ago I picked eight or nine officers from the ranks for exceptional promotion and gave them regional commands. Wang Neng and Wei Neng have served notably well, and Chen Xing and Zhang Yugui also enjoy good reputations." Lü Mengzheng and the others replied: "No one is talented in every way. If you pick ten and five prove sound, that already shows how well Your Majesty judges men."
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五年，帝謂知樞密院周瑩曰：「國朝之制，軍員有闕，但權領之，三歲一遷補。 未及期以功而授，止奉朝請而已。 今闕員處則乏人部轄。 須當例與轉補。」 於是召瑩等至便殿，按軍籍次補，其屯戍於外及軍額在下素不該恩例，亦溥及之。 凡再旬方畢。
In year 5 the emperor told Zhou Ying, director of the Bureau of Military Affairs: "Under our system, vacant army billets are only held in an acting capacity until the triennial promotion round. If a man was given a post early for merit before the cycle, he merely attended court and drew stipend. But wherever billets stand empty, there is no one to command the troops. We must hold a regular promotion round to fill them." He then summoned Zhou Ying and the others to the side hall and filled posts in register order. Men on outside garrison duty and lower-grade units that normally missed such favors were included as well. The whole process took twenty days.
9
景德二年四月，帝曰：「殿前諸班、侍衛馬步諸軍及軍頭司諸軍員，因衰病或以他事出補外職，率皆臨事奏裁，殊無定制，可條其所入職名類例以聞。」 又曰：「近累有諸處立功指揮使，未可別加遷擢，皆特補本軍都虞候。 舊無此職名，蓋權宜加置，若後有闕，不須復補。」 又曰：「內外諸軍所闕小校，儻以名次遷補，或慮不能盡得武幹之士，自今並令閱試武藝，選擢為之。」
In the fourth month of Jingde 2 the emperor said: "When men of the Palace Front platoons, Imperial Bodyguard horse and foot forces, or the Army Chiefs Office leave the capital for outside posts because of age, illness, or other reasons, each case is decided ad hoc. Draw up a fixed list of the outside titles they receive and report it." He added: "Company commanders who have lately won merit in the field should not receive special jumps in rank; appoint them all as army adjutants of their own unit. That title did not exist before; it is an expedient. Do not refill it when it falls vacant again." He also said: "Vacant junior posts in the capital and provincial armies cannot all be filled by seniority alone if we want capable fighters. From now on, test martial skill and promote on merit."
10
大中祥符四年七月，詔曰：「自來轉補軍員，皆是議定降宣命訖，方引見轉補。 其間有老病不任職者，臨時易之，無由整齊。 經汾陰大禮，應殿前馬步軍諸班諸軍員，並分作甲次於崇政殿逐人唱名引見，朕自視之。 有不任職者，當於不係禁軍處優與安排，免轉員之際，旋議改易。」 八月，詔：「殿前、侍衛馬軍步軍司所管內外禁軍軍員，自來補轉，體例不一，未得均平。 朕夙夜思之。 今來該汾陰轉員，可立定久遠規制。 其馬軍、步軍，自指揮使以下，各別轉補，皆令自下而陞。 仍將殿前、侍衛馬軍步軍司所轄軍分，各袞同轉補。 如馬軍軍員自近下補至拱聖，即雙取之，以分補捧日、龍衛，其近下軍分有闕，即卻自捧日、龍衛雙取，陞一員資補填。 其步軍有闕，填補並準此。」 又詔：「所議改更轉補軍員職名，恐諸軍未喻，可降宣命云：殿前、侍衛馬步軍司自來多是龍衛更轉入捧日，並神衛更入天武之類，是致難得出職，久成沉滯。 今來轉員，出自朕意，並各與分兩頭遷改，其龍衛更不入捧日，並神衛更不入天武。 其捧日、龍衛闕，於拱聖內隔間取人，分頭充填。 其拱聖闕，即將驍騎、雲騎分頭轉入。 其天武、神衛闕，於神勇內隔間取人，分頭充填。 其神勇闕，即將宣武充填。 其宣武闕，取殿前、步軍司虎翼充填。 已上如取盡指定軍員，即轉已次軍員充填。 所有寧朔軍分次第請受並轉員出入，今後並特與依驍勝體例施行。」
In the seventh month of Dazhong Xiangfu 4 an edict declared: "Until now, army promotions were decided in advance and the imperial order issued before men were presented at court. Men who proved too old or ill for duty were swapped at the last minute, so the roster could never be kept in order. After the great Fenyin rites, every Palace Front horse and foot platoon and officer was grouped by rotation batch at Chongzheng Hall, called forward by name, and inspected by me in person. Anyone unfit for duty should be given a favorable post outside the Palace Guard now, so we need not reshuffle him during the rotation." In the eighth month an edict said: "Promotion rules for Palace Guard personnel under the Palace Front and Imperial Bodyguard horse and foot commands have never been uniform or fair. I have thought about this constantly. With the Fenyin rotation at hand, we can now set lasting rules. Horse and foot units alike shall promote from company commander down, each corps on its own ladder, always rising from the bottom up. Units under the Palace Front and Imperial Bodyguard commands shall also rotate together on interleaved schedules. When horse troops rise from the lowest units to Gongsheng, take two men at once and split them between Sun-Bearing and Dragon Guard; if a lower unit has a vacancy, take two back from Sun-Bearing and Dragon Guard, promote each one grade, and fill the gap. Foot units follow the same rule for vacancies." Another edict explained the change for the troops: "In the past Dragon Guard men had to rotate into Sun-Bearing and Divine Guard into Heavenly Martial, which blocked promotion and left many men stuck for years. This rotation is by my design: each corps now has two promotion tracks. Dragon Guard no longer feeds Sun-Bearing, and Divine Guard no longer feeds Heavenly Martial. Vacancies in Sun-Bearing and Dragon Guard are filled by taking men from Gongsheng at intervals and splitting them between the two corps. Gongsheng vacancies are filled from Valiant Cavalry and Cloud Cavalry on separate tracks. Heavenly Martial and Divine Guard vacancies are filled from Divine Valor at intervals on separate tracks. Divine Valor vacancies are filled from Martial Display. Martial Display vacancies are filled from Tiger Wing units under the Palace Front and Foot Army commands. If the designated units are exhausted, take men from the next lower unit in the chain. All Ningshuo units shall henceforth follow the Valiant Victory model for pay grades and rotation in and out of the capital."
11
六年十月，詔：「諸班直並馬步軍事軍員，其諸班、捧日、龍衛、天武、神衛五頭下出人外，其御龍諸直作一處轉； 員僚直、拱聖、驍騎、雲騎、驍勝、武騎、寧朔、神騎已上軍額軍員，作一處挨排遞遷； 水軍神勇、宣武，殿前司虎翼、衛聖，步軍司虎翼、奉節、廣勇、神射已上軍額軍員，作一處挨排轉補； 事內殿前指揮使押班至都知只本班轉，其神衛、廣勇、神射已下至軍使、都頭，即逐指揮內遞遷。 內有年及六十已下者並勾押赴闕，令殿前司看驗聞奏，當議相度安排。 所有副兵馬使、副都頭員闕，仍取捧日、龍衛、神勇十將充填，餘並從之。 內神衛水軍第一指揮，令立充神衛水軍指揮； 殿前司上虎翼第二、步軍司上虎翼第一，並立充虎翼水軍指揮，依舊係逐司管押。 其神衛水軍見管軍員，先自奉節補入，多不會舟楫，並一齊轉上外，卻將虎翼水軍兩指揮會水軍員與神衛水軍共三指揮一處袞轉。 如轉至神衛水軍指揮使，除年老病患依例出職安排外，更不轉上。」
In the tenth month of year 6 an edict ordered: "Duty platoons and horse and foot staff rotate as follows: apart from the five elite corps—duty platoons, Sun-Bearing, Dragon Guard, Heavenly Martial, and Divine Guard—when men leave the capital, Imperial Dragon platoons rotate as one pool; staff duty platoons, Gongsheng, Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, Valiant Victory, Martial Cavalry, Ningshuo, and Divine Cavalry form one succession queue; naval Divine Valor and Martial Display, Palace Front Tiger Wing and Guard Sacred, Foot Army Tiger Wing, Loyal Festival, Broad Valor, and Divine Shot form a second queue for rotation; Palace Front platoon leads through directors rotate within their own platoons; from Divine Guard, Broad Valor, and Divine Shot down to battalion officer and squad chief, men advance within their own company. Men aged sixty or under in these pools are to be brought to court for the Palace Front Command to inspect and report on, so that their assignments may be decided. Vacancies for deputy horse-and-arms officers and deputy squad chiefs are still to be filled from squad sergeants of Sun-Bearing, Dragon Guard, and Divine Valor; the remainder of the edict stands. The first company of Divine Guard naval forces is to be established as the Divine Guard naval command; Palace Front upper Tiger Wing second company and Foot Army upper Tiger Wing first company are both established as Tiger Wing naval commands under their respective bureaus. Present Divine Guard naval men, originally drawn from Loyal Festival, mostly cannot handle boats; transfer them all outside, then merge the two Tiger Wing naval commands' skilled sailors with Divine Guard naval forces into one three-command rotation pool. Once a man reaches Divine Guard naval company commander, he rotates no higher except when age or illness requires a post outside the capital, as usual."
12
天聖六年，將轉員，樞密院奏：「諸軍將校有因循不敢戢士者，請諭殿前、馬步軍司密以名聞。」 八年，詔殿前、侍衛司同定內外諸軍排立資次。 景祐二年，詔緣邊就糧兵有員闕，奏以舊人次遷。
In Tiansheng 6, as the rotation approached, the Bureau of Military Affairs reported: "Some officers are slack and fail to discipline their men. Please have the Palace Front and horse and foot commands report their names in confidence." In year 8 an edict ordered the Palace Front and Imperial Bodyguard commands to fix the seniority ranking of all capital and provincial units. In Jingyou 2 an edict ordered that vacancies in frontier grain-paid units be filled by advancing veterans in seniority order.
13
康定元年，詔三品就糧將校半以次遷，半遣自京師。 又詔陝西土兵校長遣自京師，情不諳達，自今悉就本路通補。
In Kangding 1 an edict ordered that third-grade grain-paid officers fill half their vacancies by local seniority and half from the capital. Another edict noted that sending squad leaders for Shaanxi local militia from the capital left them ignorant of local conditions; henceforth fill those posts within the circuit.
14
慶曆四年，詔捧日、天武選退將校超三資，餘超二資，悉補外職。 五年，真定府、定州路都總管司奏：「奉詔閱教軍士，選補階級，弓射九斗至一石，距堋七十步至百步，射最親者為第一等。 其閱教時，弓不必引滿，力競即發，務在必中。 伏緣舊例軍中揀節級，以挽強引滿為勝。 今一旦取射親者為第一等，其弓力止九斗、一石，箭留三兩指，而退素習挽強引滿之士，於理未便。」 詔諸軍選節級用舊例，遇閱教即如近製。
In Qingli 4 an edict ordered that retired officers selected from Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial advance three grades and all others two, with all assigned to posts outside the capital. In year 5 the Zhending and Dingzhou circuit command reported: "Under the edict to inspect troops and fill ranks, bows of nine to ten dou are shot from seventy to one hundred paces at the butt; the closest hits rank first class. At inspection the bow need not be fully drawn; the archer competes for speed and must hit the target. We note that under the old rule squad leaders were chosen by who could draw the heaviest bow to the full. To rank closest hits first—with bows of only nine or ten dou and arrows not fully drawn—and pass over men trained to draw heavy bows full seems unfair." The court replied: "Choose squad leaders by the old rule in general; at formal inspections follow the new standard."
15
皇祐元年，詔：諸路就糧兵闕將校，須轉補滿三年聽遷。 又詔：將帥麾下兵，非有戰功，毋得請遷隸上軍。
In Huangyou 1 an edict ordered that officers appointed to fill vacancies in circuit grain-paid units must serve three years before transfer. Another edict forbade soldiers under field commanders from requesting transfer to elite units unless they had won merit in battle.
16
嘉祐二年，詔：京東教閱本城、騎射、威邊、威勇、壯武，自初募置，即給鼓旗閱教以代禁軍，如有員闕，聽遞遷至副指揮使止，轉補後滿三歲，闕三分已上即舉行。 其指揮使闕，即步軍司補之。
In Jiayou 2 an edict ordered that Jingdong review units—Capital Garrison, Mounted Archers, Border Might, Valiant Might, and Strong Martial—trained from recruitment with drums and banners as Palace Guard substitutes may promote internally only to deputy company commander; after three years, if more than a third of posts are vacant, hold a promotion round. Company commander vacancies are filled by the Foot Army Command.
17
至和三年，詔親從官入殿滿八年者補節級，從樞密院之請也。
In Zhihe 3, at the Bureau of Military Affairs' request, an edict ordered that personal attendants who had served in the hall eight years be appointed squad leaders.
18
治平元年，遷諸班直長行洎禁軍副兵馬使已上有材武者，得七十人，帝臨軒親閱。 喻天武右第三軍都指揮使王秀曰：「爾武藝雖不中格，而有戰功，且能恪守法度，其以爾為正刺史，務勤乃職，無負朕之委寄也。」 又喻散直都虞候胡從、內殿直副都知張思曰：「爾能勤以持身，忠以事上，治軍又皆整肅，其以從為內園使，思為崇儀副使。」 自餘擢遷有差。
In Zhiping 1 seventy men of talent were selected from duty platoon senior attendants and Palace Guard deputy horse-and-arms officers and above, and the emperor inspected them personally at the hall. He told Wang Xiu, commander of Heavenly Martial right third army: "Your martial skill falls short of the standard, but you have battle merit and keep discipline. I appoint you substantive prefect. Serve diligently and do not betray my trust." He also told Hu Cong, adjutant of Scattered Duty, and Zhang Si, deputy director of Inner Hall Direct Duty: "You are diligent and loyal, and your commands are well disciplined. Cong is appointed Inner Garden Commissioner; Si, Vice Commissioner of Honored Rites." The others were promoted in varying degrees.
19
二年，詔：「廣南教閱忠敢、澄海，一營者即本營遞遷，兩營已上者，營三百人補五人，二百人至三百人補三人，二百人以下補二人，百人以下補一人，止於副指揮使。 凡遞遷滿三歲，五階闕二、三階闕一即補。」 四年，詔：「自今一營及二百五十人已上置校十人，闕三人即補。 二百五十人已下置校七人，闕二人即補。 京師非轉員並諸道就糧並準此令。」
In year 2 an edict ordered that for Guangnan review units Loyal Valor and Clear Sea, a single camp promotes internally; for two or more camps, appoint five men per camp of three hundred, three for camps of two to three hundred, two below two hundred, and one below one hundred, up to deputy company commander only. After three years, if two of five grades are vacant or one of three, hold a filling round. In year 4 an edict ordered that camps of 250 men or more have ten officers; when three posts are vacant, fill them. Camps under 250 men have seven officers; when two are vacant, fill them. Capital units outside the rotation cycle and grain-paid troops in all circuits follow the same rule."
20
凡軍頭、十將、節級轉補，謂之「排連」，有司按籍閱試，如列校轉員法。 弓射六斗、弩廣一石七斗、槍刀手稍練並取之。 如舊不試武技者，即遞遷。 其不教閱廂軍節級，則其半遞遷，其半取伉健未嘗犯徒刑、角力勝者充。
Promotion and filling of army chiefs, squad sergeants, and squad leaders was called "rank linkage"; the responsible office tested men by register, following the same rules as company-grade rank rotation. Candidates had to shoot a six-dou bow, span a one-shi-seven-dou crossbow, and show reasonable spear or blade skill. Men exempted from martial testing under the old rule advanced by seniority alone. For garrison squad leaders not subject to review, half were promoted by seniority and half were chosen from sturdy men with no record of penal servitude who had won wrestling matches.
21
治平四年，有司言：「軍士闕額多而將校眾，請以實領兵數製將校額，第其遷補，並通領五都之事。」 乃詔：「二百五十人以上，補指揮使十人，以下七人，闕二人者以次補。 補十將者，馬軍四十人，步軍如馬軍之數而加其一焉。 百五十人以上者三十人，闕五人者以次補。 不及百五十人者，如舊格，補單將二十人。」
In Zhiping 4 the authorities reported: "Troop vacancies are large but officer ranks overcrowded. Fix officer quotas to actual headcounts, regulate promotions accordingly, and let each officer command all five companies in his unit." The court ordered: "Units of 250 men or more have ten company commanders; smaller units have seven. Fill two vacancies by seniority. To appoint squad sergeants required forty horse soldiers, and foot soldiers in the same number plus one. Units of 150 men or more required thirty candidates; fill five vacancies by seniority. Units under 150 men followed the old rule and appointed twenty single sergeants."
22
熙寧二年，樞密院請：「自今捧日、龍衛、天武、神衛廂都指揮使闕，無當次遷者，並虛之。 其諸軍都指揮使、都虞候當遷者，闕多則間一名補轉，兼以次職事。 吐渾等軍都指揮使、都虞候闕者，虛其闕。」 六月，詔：「河東、陝西就糧軍士將校，其間材效之人，孤遠無由自達，有司審度其有軍功驍勇者以名聞，當擢寘班行，以備本路任使。」
In Xining 2 the Bureau of Military Affairs asked that vacancies for division commanders of Sun-Bearing, Dragon Guard, Heavenly Martial, and Divine Guard be left unfilled when no man was due for promotion. When many army commander or adjutant posts were due to rotate, promote every other eligible man and assign acting lower duties as needed. Vacancies among Tuhun and similar units were also left unfilled. In the sixth month an edict ordered that able grain-paid officers in Hedong and Shaanxi who could not reach the court be identified by merit and valor, reported by name, and promoted for service on their circuit.
23
四年，詔：「諸班直嘗備宿衛，病告滿尚可療者，殿前指揮使補外牢城指揮使，餘以為捧日、天武第五軍押營，奉錢三千者予五百，二千以下者予三百。」
In year 4 an edict ordered that former palace guards on sick leave who could still serve: Palace Front company commanders became outside prison-garrison commanders; others became camp supervisors in Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial fifth armies, with stipends of 500 for men paid 3,000 and 300 for those paid under 2,000.
24
六年，詔：「軍校老而諳部轄者優假之； 雖疾不至罷癃，或未七十猶堪任事者勿罷。 即法雖當留而不能部轄者以聞，當議處之廂軍。」 十月，詔：「軍士選為節級，取兩嘗有功者，功等以先後，又等以重輕，又等以傷多者為上。」
In year 6 an edict ordered favorable treatment for elderly officers skilled in command; do not dismiss men whose illness falls short of total disability, or who are under seventy and still fit for duty. Report men whom the law would keep but who can no longer command, so that garrison placement may be decided." In the tenth month an edict ordered that squad leaders be chosen from men with two meritorious records; ties were broken by date, then severity, then number of wounds.
25
七年，詔：「十將以下當轉資而不欲者，凡一資，以功者賜帛十五匹，技優者十匹。」 六月，詔：「在京轉員諸軍都虞候已上至軍都指揮使，以軍功當遷而願以授子孫者聽，視其秩有差。」
In year 7 an edict offered men below squad sergeant who declined promotion one grade's reward: fifteen bolts of silk for merit, ten for superior skill. In the sixth month an edict allowed capital officers from army adjutant through army commander due to advance on battle merit to pass the benefit to descendants, with rewards scaled by rank.
26
八年，轉員，帝親閱，凡三日。 舊制，捧日都虞候四人，至是，補者五人，而馬軍都指揮使闕驍騎二人，以捧日一人補驍騎軍主，餘四人如故，則次軍皆不得遷，乃補四人者皆為馬步軍副都軍頭。 舊龍衛、拱聖、驍騎、武騎、寧朔、神騎為一百三十一營，今省五十營，而馬軍指揮以下已補八十一營，補外尚有溢員，乃詔所省營未移並者凡四十三，每營權置下名指揮使、副指揮使各一，軍使三，以便遞遷。
In year 8 the emperor personally inspected the rank rotation for three full days. Under the old rule there were four Sun-Bearing adjutants; now five were appointed. The horse army commander still had two Valiant Cavalry slots unfilled, so one Sun-Bearing man was posted as Valiant Cavalry army chief while the other four stayed in place. Because subordinate corps could no longer rotate, all four new appointees were made deputy chiefs of the horse and foot armies. Dragon Guard, Gongsheng, Valiant Cavalry, Martial Cavalry, Ningshuo, and Divine Cavalry once numbered 131 camps. After cutting fifty camps, company commanders and junior horse officers had already filled eighty-one posts, with men still to spare. The court therefore ordered that the forty-three camps not yet consolidated each receive one acting company commander, one acting deputy, and three battalion officers to keep the promotion queue moving.
27
九年，將轉員，樞密院奏：「換官稍優，軍校由行伍有功，不久乃至團練使。」 帝曰：「祖宗以來，軍製固有意。 凡隸在京殿前、馬步軍司所統諸營，置軍都指揮使、都虞候分領之。 凡軍事，止責分領節制之人。 責之既嚴，則遇之不得不優。 至若諸路，則軍校不過各領一營，不可比也。」 吳充等以本大末小對，帝然之。 因言：「周室雖盛，成、康之後，浸以衰微。 本朝太平百有餘年，由祖宗法度具在，豈可輕改也？」
In year 9, on the eve of rank rotation, the Bureau of Military Affairs reported that the terms of civil exchange were too generous: common soldiers with battlefield merit could reach regimental training commissioner in only a few steps. The emperor replied: "The military system has always had a purpose, ever since our founding. Every camp under the Palace Front and Imperial Bodyguard horse and foot commands in the capital has its own army commander and adjutant. Military responsibility falls solely on the officers assigned to command each unit. Strict accountability demands equally generous rewards. On the circuits, by contrast, an officer commands at most a single camp, and the two systems are not comparable." Wu Chong and others explained that the capital commands the root while the circuits are the branches; the emperor agreed. They added: "The Zhou dynasty was glorious, yet after Kings Cheng and Kang it slowly weakened. Our dynasty has enjoyed more than a century of peace because ancestral institutions remain intact. How can we change them lightly?"
28
元豐元年，詔禁軍排連者三分其人，以其一取立功額外人，二分如令簡試。 十二月，詔諸軍軍使、都頭以下並充兵額，正副指揮使以上置於額外，軍行則分押諸隊。 又詔：「內殿直以下諸班直闕，按籍闕二分者虛其闕四之一，二分以上亦如之，不及二分補其半，餘並闕之。」
In the first year of Yuanfeng an edict ordered that palace guard rank linkage draw one third of appointees from men with meritorious service outside the quota and select the remaining two thirds through the standard simplified test. In the twelfth month an edict ruled that battalion officers and squad chiefs and below counted toward troop quotas, while company commanders and above were held outside it, supervising squads separately when the army marched. Another edict ordered that for vacancies in the Inner Palace Duty platoons and below, when the register showed a two-tenths shortfall, leave one quarter of the slots unfilled; apply the same rule for larger shortfalls; for shortfalls under two-tenths fill half the gap and leave the rest open.
29
四年，詔：「五路袞轉土軍與諸路不袞轉禁軍法，十將、副都頭、副兵馬使、都頭、軍使並如令。 自副都指揮使至都虞候嘗轉資者，間以賜帛，已賜帛乃遷。」
In year 4 an edict applied the same rules to squad sergeants, deputy squad chiefs, deputy horse-and-arms officers, squad chiefs, and battalion officers under both the Five-Circuit rotating native-troop system and the standard palace guard rules elsewhere. Officers from deputy division commander through adjutant due for grade rotation receive silk bolts at intervals and advance only after receiving them."
30
五年，詔以諸路教閱廂軍為下禁軍，排連如禁軍法。
In year 5 reviewed garrison troops on all circuits were classified as lower palace guard and promoted by the same rank-linkage rules.
31
七年，樞密院言：「騎軍諸營、諸班直以年勞陞至軍使者甚眾，無闕可補。」 詔捧日、龍衛、拱聖、驍騎、雲騎、驍勝權置下名軍使，凡二百四十員，拱聖、驍騎、雲騎權置副兵馬使，凡九十員以處之。
In year 7 the Bureau reported that seniority had promoted so many cavalry and duty-platoon men to battalion officer that no vacancies remained. The court created 240 acting battalion officer posts across Sun-Bearing, Dragon Guard, Gongsheng, Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Valiant Victory, plus 90 acting deputy horse-and-arms officers in Gongsheng, Valiant Cavalry, and Cloud Cavalry, to absorb the excess.
32
二年，樞密院言：「舊例，行門對御呈試武藝，並臨時特旨推恩，前期未嘗按試，至日旋乞增加鬥力，或涉唐突，因以抵罪，請於轉員前一日按定鬪力。」 從之。 四月，樞密院言：「舊例，諸班直長行補諸軍員僚，並取入班及轉班二十年、年四十以上人。 迨元豐四年，以闕額數多，乃特詔減五年，係一時之命。 今諸軍員僚溢額，儻不定制，即異時遷補不行； 若便依限年舊法，又慮未有合該出職之人。 請於三次漸次增及舊例年限。」 從之。
In year 2 the Bureau noted that Gate Corps candidates once presented martial skill before the throne for on-the-spot favors without prior testing, then pleaded at the last moment to raise draw weights—sometimes presumptuously enough to be punished. It asked that draw weights be fixed one day before rank rotation. The request was approved. In the fourth month the Bureau recalled that duty-platoon senior men appointed to army staff posts had to have twenty years of platoon service and be at least forty. In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, with so many vacancies, the court temporarily cut the requirement by five years. Army staff posts are now over quota; without permanent rules, future promotions will stall; Restoring the old term limits immediately would leave too few qualified candidates. The Bureau asked to restore the old term in three gradual steps. Approved.
33
五年，樞密院言：「轉員馬軍指揮使以下至副兵馬使，人數溢額，轉遷不行。」 詔權置下名軍使一百七十人，副兵馬使一百七十五人。 又言：「禁軍大閱，請以匹帛、銀楪支賜，罷轉資。」 從之。 六年，又言：「應排連長行充承局、押官者，先取年五十五以下、有戰功公據者，仍以戰功多少、得功先後、傷中輕重為次，事等而俱無傷中，則以事藝營名為次。」 從之。
In year 5 the Bureau reported that at rank rotation horse company commanders through deputy horse-and-arms officers exceeded their quotas and rotation had stalled. The court created 170 acting battalion officers and 175 acting deputy horse-and-arms officers. They also proposed paying grand-review honorees in silk and silver rather than grade promotions. Approved. In year 6 they proposed that rank-linkage senior men chosen as bureau heads and escort officers be under fifty-five with documented battle merit, ranked by merit, date, and wound severity, then by skill grade and camp when ties remained. Approved.
34
紹聖二年，詔：「將來轉員換前班人，並從元豐轉員令，仍不得過一百二十人。 元祐所限人數比試家狀指揮勿用。」
In Shaosheng 2 an edict capped front-platoon civil exchanges at 120 men under the Yuanfeng rotation rules. Yuanyou limits on numbers, comparison testing, and household registers were revoked."
35
三年，樞密院進呈轉員及行門試武藝、換前班、留住等條例。 曾布言：「國初以來，皆麵問其所欲，察相人才，或換官，或遷將校，或再任，此則威福在人主。 以至唐突，或放罪，或行法，亦視其情狀而操縱之。 元祐改法，乃令大閹與三司、軍頭司先指試定，但對御引呈，依拍定等第推恩，殊失祖宗馭眾之法。 不許唐突，例坐徒罪兼決責人員，皆非舊法。 唐突人雖有理，亦不施行。 緣情輕者放罪，重者取旨，自有舊格。 先朝燕達、林廣嘗唐突當降配，先帝釋之，後皆為名將。 至情重則杖脊配嶺表者，有王明者住留叫呼，云：『若不得換前班，乞納命。』 管軍賈逵乞重配，先帝亦貸之，但降一等，與換外官。 如此，故人知恩威皆自人主出，豈可一切付之有司？」 帝悅，詔令並依元豐以前條例施行。
In year 3 the Bureau submitted regulations on rank rotation, Gate Corps martial tests, front-platoon exchange, and retention. Zeng Bu argued that since the founding the emperor had always questioned candidates in person, judged their talent, and decided whether to exchange them into civil office, promote them, or reappoint them—keeping favor and authority in imperial hands. Even when a man was presumptuous, the emperor could pardon or punish as he saw fit. The Yuanyou reform let the chief eunuch, Finance Commission, and Army Chiefs Office fix grades in advance, reducing the palace presentation to a rubber stamp—abandoning the ancestral way of commanding the ranks. Bans on presumptuous pleading, routine penal servitude, and mandatory beatings were all innovations, not old law. Even meritorious men who spoke out of turn were denied. Old rules already distinguished light cases for pardon from serious ones requiring imperial decision. Under the previous emperor Yan Da and Lin Guang had been presumptuous enough to merit demotion and exile, yet were released and went on to become famous generals. In a grave case warranting spine flogging and exile to the south, Wang Ming shouted while being held back: "If I cannot take front-platoon civil exchange, I offer my life." Commanding officer Jia Kui asked for harsher punishment; the previous emperor spared him too, cutting one grade and assigning him a civil post outside the capital. Men knew that favor and fear alike came from the throne. How could all of this be delegated to officials? The emperor agreed and ordered a return to pre-Yuanfeng rules.
36
五年，馬步軍司言：「三路袞轉軍員，請依元豐七年詔，『應三月一日後續有得功嵌補陞名並改轉名職自充下名者，並依先補名次，各理降宣月日以為高下，審會給據，候再經袞轉，即依嵌補陞轉名次高下轉那。』 自今三路軍員袞轉亦如之。」 詔侍衛馬、步軍司，自今開具合轉補職名申樞密院降宣，餘並從之。 七月，軍頭司引見殿前、馬步軍司揀到御龍諸直人材事藝應格，並補逐直將虞候，賜杖子。 一名開弓偃身不應法，黜之。
In year 5 the horse and foot commands asked that Three-Circuit rotating personnel follow the seventh year of Yuanfeng rule: men promoted on merit after March 1 who changed title or filled acting lower posts would keep their original appointment order, ranked by edict date, with credentials verified; after a second rotation they would move according to interim promotion rank. The same rule would apply to all Three-Circuit rotating personnel from then on." The court ordered the Imperial Bodyguard horse and foot commands to submit eligible rotation titles to the Bureau for edicts; the rest was approved. In the seventh month the Army Chiefs Office presented Imperial Dragon platoon men whom the Palace Front and horse and foot commands had selected for physique and skill; all were appointed platoon adjutants and given batons. One candidate's bow draw failed the posture test and he was dismissed.
37
八月，樞密院言：
In the eighth month the Bureau of Military Affairs reported:
38
《轉員旁通格》：「捧日、天武不帶遙刺軍都指揮使，換左藏庫使，仍除遙刺； 殿前班不帶遙刺都虞候，換左藏庫使。」 看詳殿前班帶遙郡都虞候，係與捧日帶遙郡軍都指揮使理先後相壓轉遷； 其不帶遙郡殿前班都虞候、捧日軍都指揮使換官班，合一等推恩。 欲殿前班不帶遙郡都虞候，依捧日不帶遙郡軍都指揮使換官。
The Supplementary Rank-Rotation Regulations state that Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial army commanders without titular prefectships exchange for Left Treasury Commissioner and shed the titular prefectship; Palace Front platoon adjutants without titular prefectships exchange for Left Treasury Commissioner." On review, Palace Front platoon adjutants with titular prefectural commissions rank with Sun-Bearing army commanders with titular prefectural commissions for overlapping rotation precedence; Palace Front platoon adjutants and Sun-Bearing army commanders without titular prefectural commissions should receive equal civil-exchange benefits. The Bureau proposed that Palace Front platoon adjutants without titular prefectural commissions exchange for civil office on the same terms as Sun-Bearing army commanders without titular prefectural commissions.
39
又拱聖、神勇與驍騎已下軍分有異，其逐軍都虞候、指揮使理難一等換官。 欲拱聖、神勇都虞候依舊換供備庫使外，驍騎、雲騎、宣武都虞候換左藏庫副使，拱聖、神勇指揮使換內殿承製。 捧日、天武、神、龍衛指揮使皆係上四軍，其捧日、天武換西京左藏庫副使，龍、神衛換內殿承製，比捧日、天武隔兩官，理有未均，欲神、龍衛指揮使換供備庫副使。
Gongsheng and Divine Valor also differ from Valiant Cavalry and lower corps, so their adjutants and company commanders cannot fairly exchange civil office at a single grade. It proposed that Gongsheng and Divine Valor adjutants continue exchanging for Equipment Depot Commissioner; Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Martial Display adjutants for Deputy Left Treasury Commissioner; and Gongsheng and Divine Valor company commanders for Inner Palace Artisan. Sun-Bearing, Heavenly Martial, Divine Guard, and Dragon Guard company commanders all belong to the upper four armies. Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial exchanged for Western Capital Deputy Left Treasury Commissioner while Dragon and Divine Guard exchanged for Inner Palace Artisan—two ranks lower than Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial, which seemed unfair. The Bureau proposed Dragon and Divine Guard company commanders exchange for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner.
40
又殿前班上名副都知換供備庫副使，下名副都知換內殿承製，自來以左右第一、第二班為資次，欲第一班換供備庫副使，第二班換內殿承製。
Palace Front upper deputy directors had exchanged for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner and lower deputy directors for Inner Palace Artisan; traditionally the left and right first and second platoons set seniority. The Bureau proposed the first platoon exchange for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner and the second for Inner Palace Artisan.
41
又：「換前班差遣，州總管以下，並以五路緣邊為優，諸路為次。 正團練使，州總管； 正刺史，州鈐轄； 諸司使副，都巡檢使、駐泊都監； 內殿承製、崇班，巡檢、州都監； 供奉官至借職，教押軍隊指使。」 看詳諸司使、副已上差遣，見依格施行外，承製以下，欲依今來轉員所差遣例。
It also noted that for front-platoon exchange assignments, from prefectural commander downward, the Five Circuit border zones were preferred and other circuits secondary. Full regimental training commissioner, prefectural commander; Full prefect, prefectural military controller; Commissioners and deputies of various offices, circuit inspector, stationed garrison supervisor; Inner Palace Artisan and Honored Attendant, inspector, prefectural garrison supervisor; Court attendant through provisional appointee, drill instructor of army detachments. For commissioners and deputies and above, existing regulations would stand; for Artisan and below, the Bureau proposed following present rank-rotation assignment practice.
42
又：「拱聖、神勇、驍騎、雲騎、宣武軍都指揮使換文思，仍除遙刺，已帶者依舊； 御龍直都虞候，文思使，帶遙刺者依舊； 內殿直兩次都虞候換左藏庫使，一次文思使，帶遙刺者依舊。」 看詳拱聖、神勇與驍騎以下軍分有異，兼御龍直都虞候遇轉員合次神勇軍都指揮使轉行，及係環衛諸直人員最上名人，兼內殿直都虞候以次殿前班，及轉員無闕，合隨龍衛軍都指揮使轉行，理難於驍騎、雲騎、宣武軍都指揮使之下換官。 欲御龍直、內殿直都虞候依格合換官外，並除遙刺； 驍騎、雲騎、宣武軍都指揮使止與換文思使，更不除遙郡刺史，內已帶遙刺者並依舊。 內殿前班副都知並與換供備庫副使。
It also proposed that Gongsheng, Divine Valor, Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Martial Display army commanders exchange for Literary Enterprise Commissioner and shed titular prefectship, while those already holding it remain as before; Imperial Dragon platoon adjutants would exchange for Literary Enterprise Commissioner; those with titular prefectship would remain as before; Inner Palace Duty adjutants would exchange twice for Left Treasury Commissioner and once for Literary Enterprise Commissioner; those with titular prefectship would remain as before. On review, Gongsheng and Divine Valor differ from Valiant Cavalry and lower corps. Imperial Dragon platoon adjutants at rotation should follow Divine Valor army commanders; as the top men among guard platoons and Inner Palace Duty adjutants ranking after Palace Front platoons, when rotation had no vacancy they should follow Dragon Guard army commanders. It was hard to place them below Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Martial Display army commanders for civil exchange. The Bureau proposed that Imperial Dragon and Inner Palace Duty adjutants, aside from civil exchange under regulation, all shed titular prefectship; Valiant Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Martial Display army commanders would receive only Literary Enterprise Commissioner and no longer receive titular prefectural commission; those already holding titular prefectship would remain as before. Inner Palace and Palace Front deputy directors would all exchange for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner.
43
今馬步軍諸指揮事藝高強十將引見，取揀充員僚，內弓箭手短一指箭人合降一軍安排； 弩手括不發，事體頗同，並弩手墜箭與括不發亦同，欲並降一軍安排。
Palace Front and horse and foot company commanders were presenting skilled squad sergeants for staff selection; among them archers one finger short on the arrow should be placed one army grade lower; Crossbowmen whose catch failed to release presented much the same problem, as did those who dropped the arrow; the Bureau proposed placing all such men one army grade lower.
44
從之。
Approved.
45
十一月，樞密院言：「《轉員旁通冊》內御龍直都虞候至都頭副換官，惟指揮使上兩直與文思副使係降兩資，餘止降一資，散員至金槍都知、副都知皆換內殿承製，不惟職名有差，自副都知約六遷方轉都知； 兼東西班、散直、鈞容直係近下班分，副都知亦降都知一等換內殿崇班。 其東西班、散直押班與副都知職名不等，兩經轉遷，方入近下班分副都知，理難與都知一等換內殿崇班。 又散指揮至鈞容直指揮使並換供備庫副使，緣東西班、散直、鈞容直遇轉員，止是遷入上班，亦難一等換官。」 詔：「御龍下兩直指揮使換左藏庫副使，散員、散指揮、散都頭、散祗候，金槍都知換供備庫副使，東西班、散直押班換東頭供奉官，東西班指揮使換官依舊外，散直、鈞容直指揮使換左藏庫副使。」 緣《轉員旁通冊》內未載雲、武騎軍都指揮使轉遷換官並恩例等，詔並依驍騎軍都指揮使格。
In the eleventh month the Bureau reported that in the Supplementary Rank-Rotation Register, from Imperial Dragon platoon adjutant through deputy squad chief for civil exchange, only the two platoons above company commander with Deputy Literary Enterprise Commissioner dropped two grades while the rest dropped one. From irregular attendant through Golden Spear deputy directors all exchanged for Inner Palace Artisan—not only did the titles differ, but from deputy director it took about six promotions to reach director; Men who also served East-West Platoon, Scattered Duty, or Jung Rong Duty belonged to the near-lower platoon ranks, and their deputy directors likewise exchanged for Inner Hall Honored Attendant one grade below a director. East-West Platoon and Scattered Duty platoon leads and deputy directors held unequal titles; only after two rank rotations did one reach near-lower platoon deputy director. It was unreasonable to exchange for Inner Hall Honored Attendant on the same terms as a director. Scattered Command through Jung Rong Duty company commanders all exchanged for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner. Yet at rank rotation East-West Platoon, Scattered Duty, and Jung Rong Duty men merely moved into upper platoons, so equal-grade civil exchange was again hard to justify. An edict ordered that Imperial Dragon lower two platoons' company commanders exchange for Deputy Left Treasury Commissioner; irregular attendants, Scattered Command, Scattered Squad Chief, and Scattered Attendant, and Golden Spear directors for Deputy Equipment Depot Commissioner; East-West Platoon and Scattered Duty platoon leads for Eastern Head Court Attendant; and apart from East-West Platoon company commanders, who exchanged as before, Scattered Duty and Jung Rong Duty company commanders for Deputy Left Treasury Commissioner. Because the Supplementary Rank-Rotation Register did not record civil exchange and grace provisions for Cloud Cavalry and Martial Cavalry army commanders, an edict ordered that both follow the Valiant Cavalry army commander standard.
46
四年二月，軍頭司引見捧日等兵試藝，帝於行間召邢斌、韓扆問曰：「開弓猶有餘力乎？」 各對願增二石二斗弓。 遣內待監定鬥力授之。 射皆應法，並特充殿前指揮使，賜緡錢。
In the second month of year 4 the Army Chiefs Office presented Sun-Bearing and other troops for martial testing. Walking the ranks, the emperor summoned Xing Bin and Han Yi and asked, "Do you still have draw left in the bow? Each replied that he wished to raise his bow by two shi and two dou. Palace attendants were sent to fix the draw weight and issue the bows. All shooting met regulation. Both men were specially appointed Palace Front company commanders and granted cash.
47
元符元年七月，樞密院言：「將校、軍頭、十將各轉補者，委本將體量，不掩眼試五次，二十步見，若一次不同，減五步，掩一眼再試。 但兩眼共見二十步，或一眼全不見二十步，仍試上下馬。 如無病切，弓射五斗，弩踏一石五斗，槍刀、標牌手各不至生疏，並與轉補。 即有病切，或精神尫悴，或將校年六十九，或經轉補後犯奸盜贓罪情罪重以上雖該降，並隔下奏聽旨。 如差出者勾赴本將體量，在別州者，報所在州體量。 排連長行充承局、押官者，先取年五十五以下、有兩次以上戰功人填闕，六人更取一名； 餘取年四十以下、武藝高強、無病切人，試兩眼各五次，二十步見者選拍。 內步軍以闕六分為率，先取弓手一分，次取弩手三分，次取槍牌刀手二分，更有零分者依六分為率，資次取揀，周而復始。 長行犯徒經決及二年，或軍人因犯移配杖罪經三年、徒罪經四年，或已陞揀軍分又經一年，各無過犯，並聽排連。 不應充軍人，已投狀後，審會取放逐便，雖未給公憑，其請給差使並罷，有違犯，加凡人二等。 不應充軍人，於法許逐便者，並追納元請投軍例物訖，報合屬去處，給公憑放逐便。 如非品官之家，無例物回納，願依舊充軍者聽。」 從之。
In the seventh month of Yuanfu 1 the Bureau of Military Affairs reported that officers, army chiefs, and squad sergeants due for rotation fill should be assessed by their home commander: five uncovered-eye tests at twenty paces; if one result failed, reduce the distance by five paces and retest with one eye covered. If both eyes together saw at twenty paces, or one eye could not see at twenty paces at all, mounting and dismounting were still tested. Men without disqualifying illness who could shoot a five-dou bow, tread a one-shi-five-dou crossbow, and handle spear, sword, or shield without rust were all granted rotation fill. Cases of disqualifying illness, enfeebled spirit, officers aged sixty-nine, or men who after rotation fill committed adultery, theft, or serious corruption—even when demotion applied—were all reported separately for imperial decision. Men dispatched elsewhere were summoned to their home commander for assessment; those in another prefecture were assessed by report to that prefecture. In rank linkage for rank-and-file filling bureau clerk and escort officer posts, men under fifty-five with two or more battle merits were taken first to fill vacancies, one chosen for every six in rotation; the remainder came from men under forty of high martial skill and no disqualifying illness, tested five times with each eye; those who saw at twenty paces were selected by lot. Inner foot armies used a six-tenths vacancy rate: one-tenth archers first, then three-tenths crossbowmen, then two-tenths spear-shield-sword hands. Remainder fractions followed the same six-tenths ratio, with selection by seniority in rotation, cycling repeatedly. Rank-and-file men two years after a penal-servitude sentence, army men transferred for crime three years after caning or four years after penal servitude, or men already promoted to a selected army unit after one year—all without further violations—were permitted rank linkage. Men unfit for service who had petitioned were reviewed and approved for expulsion at convenience. Even before official credentials were issued, their stipends and assignments ceased, and violations were punished two grades above those for commoners. Unfit men whom the law permitted to leave at convenience recovered their original enlistment materials, reported their destination, received official credentials, and were expelled at convenience. If a man came from no ranked official family and had no materials to recover, he might continue in service if he wished. Approved.
48
三月，禮部言：「檢會故事，臣僚申請諸州軍府管押進奉衙校等，祖宗以來，並加散官。 自更官制，階散並罷。 既罷階散，若與轉資，似屬太優。 欲每轉一資，支賜絹二十匹。 如一名管押兩處，只許就一處支給。 或一州一軍差二人同押，亦共與上件支賜。 若一員官兩處進奉，只隨本官合推恩處從一支給。 今押進奉皇帝登寶位禮物衙校等，欲依故例施行。」 並從之。
In the third month the Ministry of Rites reported that, reviewing precedents, officials had asked that tribute escort guards at various prefectures and garrisons receive honorary ranks, as they had since the founding ancestors. After the office system was reformed, rank and honorary titles were abolished. With honorary ranks gone, granting rank advancement as well seemed too generous. The Ministry proposed twenty bolts of silk for each rank advancement. If one man supervised two posts, he could draw payment from only one. If one prefecture or garrison sent two men to supervise jointly, they shared the same grant. If one official had tribute duties at two places, payment followed only the post where he qualified for grace. For escorts bearing the emperor's ascension gifts, the Ministry proposed following the old precedent. All was approved.
49
宣和七年十一月，南郊，制：「應軍員送軍頭司未得與差遣者，如後來別無過犯，卻與差遣。 應廂軍人員補職及十五年未經遷補者，令所屬保明聞奏。 應禁軍、廂軍因一犯濫情重不得補充人員及遞遷資給者，若經斷及五年不曾再犯，及不曾犯贓，委所在候排連日審實，特與不礙遷補。」
In the eleventh month of Xuanhe 7, at the southern suburban sacrifice, a decree ordered that soldiers sent to the Army Chiefs Office who had not yet received assignment should still receive one if they later committed no violations. Auxiliary army men who had held posts fifteen years without promotion were to be certified and reported by their unit. Forbidden and auxiliary army men barred from filling posts and sequential benefits after one serious offense—if five years after judgment they had not offended again and had not committed corruption—were to be verified locally on rank-linkage day and specially granted promotion without impediment."
50
建炎、紹興之間，排連、轉員屢嘗損益，而大率因於舊制。
Between the Jianyan and Shaoxing reigns rank linkage and rank rotation were repeatedly adjusted, yet mostly stayed within the old framework.
51
乾道六年，主管侍衛馬軍司公事李顯忠言：「本司諸兵將官有闕，自來擇眾所推者，不以次序上聞陞遷。 比年須自訓練官充準備將，準備將及二年陞副將，副將及二年陞正將，正將及三年陞統領官，再及三年陞統制官，竊恐無以激揚士氣。 請今後兵將官有闕，不以年為限，許本司銓量人材膽勇服眾上聞補用。」 詔從其請。 此誠砥礪兵將之良法也。
In Qiandao 6 Li Xianzhong, director of Palace Attendant Horse Army affairs, reported that when officer posts fell vacant his office had traditionally chosen popular favorites and reported them for promotion out of seniority order. In recent years a man had to serve as training officer before reserve officer, reserve two years before deputy officer, deputy two years before lead officer, lead three years before command officer, and command three years before commander officer. I fear this cannot rouse morale. Henceforth, when officer posts fall vacant, I ask that years no longer govern the choice and that this office be allowed to assess talent, courage, and command of the ranks and report men for appointment. An edict approved the request. This was truly a sound way to sharpen military officers.
52
嘉定中，樞密院言：
In the Jiading reign the Bureau of Military Affairs reported:
53
諸軍轉員遷補，務在均一。 如內諸班直循舊格排連，積習既久，往往超躐陞轉，後名反居前列，高下不倫，甚失公平之意。
Rank rotation and promotion in all armies should aim at uniformity. When inner platoons followed the old rank-linkage rules, long custom often produced leapfrog promotion: later appointees ended up ahead in line, rank and order no longer matched, and fairness was badly lost.
54
今參酌前後例格，均次資序：其一曰，內殿直左第一班副都知轉東西班西第二都知，內殿直左第二班副都知轉散直左班都知。 其二曰，散員左第二班副都知陞內殿直左第一班副都知，散員右第一班副都知陞內殿直左第一班副都知。 其三曰，散員右第一班副都知陞內殿直右第一班副都知，散員左第二班副都知陞內殿直右第二班副都知。 其四曰，散指揮左第一班副都知陞散員左第一班副都知，散指揮右第一班副都知陞散員右第一班副都知。 其五曰，散指揮左第二班副都知陞散員左第二班副都知，散指揮右第三班副都知陞右第二班副都知。 其六曰，散都頭左班副都知陞散指揮左第一班副都知，散都頭右班副都知陞散指揮右第一班都知。 其七曰，散祗候左班副都知陞散指揮左第一班副都知，散祗候右班副都知陞散指揮右第二班副都知。 其八曰，內殿直左第一班押班遷轉東西班西第一班副都知，內殿直右第一班押班轉東西班西第三班副都知。
Balancing past and present regulations, seniority was equalized as follows. First: Inner Palace Duty left first platoon deputy director rotated to East-West Platoon west second platoon director; Inner Palace Duty left second platoon deputy director to Scattered Duty left platoon director. Second: Irregular Attendant left second platoon deputy director rose to Inner Palace Duty left first platoon deputy director; Irregular Attendant right first platoon deputy director likewise rose to Inner Palace Duty left first platoon deputy director. Third: Irregular Attendant right first platoon deputy director rose to Inner Palace Duty right first platoon deputy director; Irregular Attendant left second platoon deputy director to Inner Palace Duty right second platoon deputy director. Fourth: Scattered Command left first platoon deputy director rose to Irregular Attendant left first platoon deputy director; Scattered Command right first platoon deputy director to Irregular Attendant right first platoon deputy director. Fifth: Scattered Command left second platoon deputy director rose to Irregular Attendant left second platoon deputy director; Scattered Command right third platoon deputy director to right second platoon deputy director. Sixth: Scattered Squad Chief left platoon deputy director rose to Scattered Command left first platoon deputy director; Scattered Squad Chief right platoon deputy director to Scattered Command right first platoon director. Seventh: Scattered Attendant left platoon deputy director rose to Scattered Command left first platoon deputy director; Scattered Attendant right platoon deputy director to Scattered Command right second platoon deputy director. Eighth: Inner Palace Duty left first platoon lead rotated to East-West Platoon west first platoon deputy director; Inner Palace Duty right first platoon lead to East-West Platoon west third platoon deputy director.
55
以上各係陞四名外，御龍直御龍左第一直十將轉御龍弓箭直副都頭，御龍直右第一直十將轉御龍弩直副都頭，御龍骨朵子直左第一直十將陞御龍左第一直十將，御龍弩直左第一直十將陞御龍弓箭左第三直十將，係各陞六名。
Beyond these, each rising four ranks: Imperial Dragon platoon left first platoon squad sergeant rotated to Imperial Dragon Bow platoon deputy squad chief; Imperial Dragon platoon right first platoon squad sergeant to Imperial Dragon Crossbow platoon deputy squad chief; Imperial Dragon Mace platoon left first platoon squad sergeant rose to Imperial Dragon left first platoon squad sergeant; Imperial Dragon Crossbow platoon left first platoon squad sergeant to Imperial Dragon Bow left third platoon squad sergeant—each rising six ranks.
56
於是超躐積習之弊盡革，而為定制焉。
Thus the abuse of leapfrog promotion was fully corrected and made fixed regulation.
57
淳祐十一年，御史臺條奏軍功賞格違法之弊：「在法，邊戍獲捷、奇功、暴露、撤戍者，製閫、軍帥舉奏授官，必其人身親行陣，有戰禦功。 今自守闕進勇副尉至承信郎、承節郎者，其弊尤多，乃以奉權要，酬私恩，或轉售於人。 方等第功賞之初，即竄名其中，朝廷審核，動涉歲年，已無稽考。 甚至承受、廳吏、廝卒之流，足跡未嘗出都門，而沾親冒矢石、往來軍旅之恩，授以名器。 請申嚴帥閫，令立功人親授告身，庶革冒濫。」
In Chunyou 11 the Censorate memorialized abuses in military merit rewards: "By law, when border garrisons won victories, achieved extraordinary merit, endured hardship in service, or withdrew from garrison, frontier commanders and army chiefs could memorialize for appointment only if the man had fought in the ranks with merit in defense. Now from reserve Brave Deputy Captain through Credentialed Gentleman and Credentialed Officer the abuses were worst: men bought favor with the powerful, repaid private debts, or resold appointments to others. At the very grading of merit rewards they inserted false names; by the time the court reviewed, years had passed and nothing could be checked. Even receivers, clerks, and runners whose feet had never left the capital gate shared the grace meant for kin under fire and men in the field, and received name and office. We ask that commanders be strictly instructed to have merit recipients receive appointment credentials in person, to curb abuse."
58
寶祐五年，樞密院言：「應從軍職事，必立戰功，並隊伍中人曾經拍試武藝； 若訓練官以遞而陞者，或年限未及仍帶『權』字，俟年及方陞正統制，此定法也。 近年任子、雜流冒授者，才無差遣，便請從軍，繇統領至總管，曾幾何時，超躐而進。 甫得總管，卻恥軍職，輒稱私計不便，或托父母老疾，巧計離軍，又以筋力未衰，求差正任，甚非法意。」
In Baoyou 5 the Bureau of Military Affairs reported that military service required established battle merit and that men in the unit must have passed martial selection tests; training officers who rose in succession, or men whose years were incomplete and still bore the word 'Acting,' became full commanders only when their term was complete—this was fixed law. In recent years sons by privilege and miscellaneous appointees, barely without assignment, immediately sought military posts; from command officer to overall commander they leapfrogged forward in no time. Hardly named overall commander, they were ashamed of military office, pleaded private inconvenience or parents' age and illness, cunningly left the army, then with strength undiminished sought regular civil appointment—greatly contrary to law."
59
至咸淳中，大將若呂文德、夏貴、孫虎臣、範文虎輩，矜功怙寵，慢上殘下，行伍功賞，視為己物，私其族姻故舊，俾戰士身膏於草莽，而奸人坐竊其勳爵矣。
By Xianchun, great generals such as Lu Wende, Xia Gui, Sun Huchen, and Fan Wenhua traded on merit and imperial favor, were insolent to superiors and cruel to subordinates, treated rank-and-file merit rewards as private property, favored kin and old friends, let warriors die in the weeds while schemers sat and stole their honors and ranks.
60
屯戍之制
Regulations on Garrison Rotation
61
凡遣上軍，軍頭司引對，賜以裝錢。 代還，亦入見，犒以飲食，簡拔精銳，退其癃老。 至於諸州禁、廂軍亦皆戍更，隸州者曰駐泊。 戍蜀將校，不遣都虞候，當行者易管他營。 凡屯駐將校帶遙郡者，以客禮見長吏，餘如屯駐將校。 凡駐泊軍，若捍禦邊寇，即總管、鈐轄共議，州長吏等毋預。 事涉本城，並屯駐在城兵馬，即知州、都監、監押同領。 若州與駐泊事相關者，公牒交報。 凡戍更有程：京東西、河北、河東、陝西、江、淮、兩浙、荊湖、川峽、廣南東路三年，廣南西路二年，陝西城砦巡檢並將領下兵半年。
Whenever elite troops were dispatched, the Army Chiefs Office presented them for audience and granted outfit money. When they returned from rotation they also entered audience, were feasted, the sharp were selected, and the aged and infirm sent home. Forbidden and auxiliary armies in the prefectures also rotated garrison duty; troops subordinate to a prefecture were called stationed garrison. For Sichuan garrison officers, adjutants were not dispatched; men due to rotate managed other camps. Garrison officers holding distant prefectural commissions met senior officials as guests; the rest followed ordinary garrison officers. For stationed garrison troops repelling border raiders, overall commander and supervisory commissioner deliberated jointly without prefectural officials. If matters concerned the prefectural seat, the prefect, garrison commander, and garrison supervisor jointly commanded together with garrison troops in the city. If prefecture and stationed garrison matters were related, they exchanged official dispatches. Garrison rotation had fixed terms: three years in Jingdong, Jingxi, Hebei, Hedong, Shaanxi, Jianghuai, Liangzhe, Jinghu, Chuanxia, and Guangnan East Circuit; two years in Guangnan West Circuit; half a year for Shaanxi fort and patrol inspectors and officers' troops.
62
景祐元，詔：「若聞陝西戍卒，多為大將選置麾下，及偏裨臨陣，鮮得精銳自隨。 自今以全軍隸逐將，毋得選占。」 三年，詔廣、桂、荊、潭、鼎、澧六州各置雄略一營，與歸遠軍更戍嶺外。
In Jingyou 1 an edict noted that Shaanxi garrison soldiers were mostly chosen by great generals and kept under personal command, so when deputies faced battle they rarely had sharp troops with them. Henceforth whole armies are to follow each commander; personal selection and seizure are forbidden." In year 3 an edict ordered Guang, Gui, Jing, Tan, Ding, and Li six prefectures each to establish one Heroic Strategy camp, rotating with the Return Far Army to garrison beyond the ranges.
63
康定元年，頒銅符、木契、傳信牌。 銅符上篆刻曰「某處發兵符」，下鑄虎豹為飾，而中分之。 右符五，左旁作虎豹頭四； 左符五，右旁為四竅，令可勘合。 又以篆文相向側刻十幹字為號：一甲己，二乙庚，三丙辛，四丁壬，五戊癸。 左符刻十幹半字，右符止刻甲己等兩半字。 右五符留京師，左符降總管、鈐轄、知州軍官高者掌之。 凡發兵，樞密院下符一至五，周而復始。 指揮三百人至五千人用一虎一豹符，五千人已上用雙虎豹符。 樞密院下符以右符第一為始，內匣中，緘印之，命使者齎宣同下，雲下第一符，發兵與使者，復緘右符以還，仍疾置聞。 所在籍下符資次日月及兵數，毋得付所司。
In Kangding 1 bronze tally tokens, wooden contracts, and message-passing plaques were issued. Each bronze tally was engraved above with "Troop-dispatch tally of such-and-such place," cast below with tiger-and-leopard ornament, and split down the middle. The right tally had five pieces; on the left side were four tiger-leopard heads; the left tally had five pieces; on the right side were four sockets so they could be matched. The ten heavenly stems were carved facing each other as serial numbers: one jia-ji, two yi-geng, three bing-xin, four ding-ren, five wu-gui. The left tally carved half of each stem character; the right tally carved only the two half-characters of jia-ji and the rest. The five right tallies remained in the capital; the left tallies went to overall commanders, supervisory commissioners, and the senior prefectural or garrison official. Whenever troops were dispatched, the Bureau of Military Affairs issued tallies one through five in rotation. Dispatch of three hundred to five thousand men used one tiger and one leopard tally; five thousand or more required double tiger-leopard tallies. The Bureau issued tallies beginning with the first right tally, sealed in an inner case, and sent an envoy with the edict. The first tally below the clouds went to the troops with the envoy; the right tally was resealed and returned, and express relay reported back. The locality registered the date and troop count of each tally received and did not hand them to subordinate offices.
64
其木契上下題「某處契」，中剖之，上三枚中為魚形，題「一、二、三」，下一枚中刻空魚，令可勘合，左旁題云「左魚合」，右旁題云「右魚合」。 上三枚留總管、鈐轄官高者掌之，下一枚付諸州軍城砦主掌之。 總管、鈐轄發兵馬，百人已上，先發上契第一枚，貯以韋囊，緘印之，遣指揮齎牒同往。 所在驗下契與上契合，即發兵，復緘上契以還，仍報總管、鈐轄。 其發第二、第三契亦如之。 掌契官籍發契資次日月及兵數以為驗。
The wooden contract was inscribed above and below with "Contract of such-and-such place" and split down the middle. The upper three pieces bore fish shapes in the center marked "one, two, three"; the lower piece bore an empty fish cut for matching; the left was marked "left fish match," the right "right fish match." The upper three pieces were kept by the senior overall commander or supervisory commissioner; the lower piece went to the prefecture, garrison, or fort commander. When an overall commander or supervisory commissioner dispatched one hundred men or more, he first sent the upper contract's first piece in a sealed leather pouch with an officer and dispatch. The locality verified that the lower contract matched the upper, then dispatched troops; the upper contract was resealed and returned, and the overall commander and supervisory commissioner were notified. Dispatch of the second and third contracts followed the same rule. The contract-holding officer registered the date and troop count of each contract issued as verification.
65
傳信牌中為池槽，藏筆墨紙，令主將掌之。 每臨陣傳命，書紙內牌中，持報兵官，復書事宜內牌中而還。 主將密以字為號驗，毋得漏泄軍中事。
The message-passing plaque had a pool-trough in the center holding brush, ink, and paper, for the commanding general to hold. Whenever orders were passed on the battlefield, writing went inside the plaque to military officers; completed business was written inside the plaque and returned. The commanding general secretly used characters as verification codes; military affairs must not leak.
66
呂夷簡言：「自元昊反，被邊城砦各為自守計，萬一賊有奔衝，即關輔驚擾。 雖夏竦等屯永興，其實兵少。 自永興距鄜延、環慶諸路，皆數百里，設有急緩，內外不能相救。 請募勇敢士三萬，訓以武技，分置十隊，以有謀勇者三人將之，分營永興。 西寇至，則舉烽相應，或乘勢討擊，進退不以地分，並受夏竦等節制。」 詔從之。 初，趙元昊反，以夏竦、陳執中知永興軍，節度陝西諸軍，久之無功。 乃析秦鳳、涇原、環慶、鄜延為四路，以秦、渭、慶、延知州分領本路馬步軍。 是歲，罷銅符、木契。 詔曰：「陝西屯重兵，罄本路租稅，益以內庫錢帛，並西川歲輸，而軍儲猶不足。 宜度隙地為營田務，四路總管、轉運悉兼領使。」
Lu Yijian said: "Since Yuanhao rebelled, each border fort and camp had made its own plan to hold fast. If the enemy broke through in a rush, the capital region would be thrown into alarm. Although Xia Song and others garrisoned Yongxing, they had few troops in fact. From Yongxing to Fuyan, Huanqing, and other routes was several hundred li; in an emergency inner and outer forces could not rescue each other. I request recruiting thirty thousand brave men, training them in martial skill, dividing them into ten companies under three men of counsel and courage as commanders, and encamping them separately at Yongxing. When western raiders appeared, the companies would raise beacon fires in mutual response or strike while the enemy was exposed; advance and retreat would not be bound by territorial lines, and all would answer to Xia Song and his colleagues. The court approved the proposal. When Zhao Yuanhao first rebelled, Xia Song and Chen Zhizhong were put in charge of Yongxing and given command of all Shaanxi forces, yet after a long campaign they had nothing to show for it. The court then split Qinfeng, Jingyuan, Huanqing, and Fuyan into four circuits, with the prefects of Qin, Wei, Qing, and Yan each taking command of the horse and foot armies on their route. That year the bronze tally tokens and wooden contracts were abolished. An edict noted that Shaanxi kept a massive garrison, draining the circuit's land tax and supplementing it with Inner Treasury funds and cloth plus Sichuan's annual tribute—yet military stores were still not enough. Idle land should be surveyed for military colony offices, and the overall commanders and transport commissioners of all four circuits should concurrently head those offices."
67
慶曆二年，詔：「已發士三萬戍永興，委總管司部分閱教。 歲以八月遣萬五千人戍涇、原、儀、渭州、鎮戎軍，十二月以萬五千人代，至二月無警即還，歲以為常。」 葛懷敏等喪師，命范仲淹、韓琦、龐籍復統四路，軍期中覆不及者，以便宜從事。 四年，夏人已納款，乃罷。 四月，帝謂輔臣曰：「湖廣擊蠻吏士，方夏瘴熱，而罹疾者眾，宜遣醫往為胗視。」
In Qingli 2 an edict ordered that the thirty thousand troops already sent to garrison Yongxing be reviewed and trained in sections by the overall commander's office. Each year fifteen thousand men would garrison Jing, Yuan, Yi, Wei, and Zhenrong in the eighth month and be relieved by another fifteen thousand in the twelfth; if no alarm arose by the second month they returned home—a standing annual rotation. After Ge Huaimin and others lost their army, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Pang Ji were restored to command of the four circuits, with discretion to act when military deadlines could not wait on the court. In year 4 the Tangut submitted, and the arrangement was abolished. In the fourth month the emperor told his chief ministers that officials and soldiers fighting the Yao in Huguang were falling ill in midsummer heat and miasma, and that physicians should be sent to examine them.
68
六年，詔：「騎軍以盛夏出戍，馬多道死。 自今以八月至二月遣發。」 又詔：「廣南方春瘴癘，戍兵在邊者權休善地。 其自嶺外戍回軍士，予休兩月。」 李昭亮上言：「舊制，調發諸軍先引見，試以戰陣，遷補校長。 今或不暇試戰陣，請選強壯有武技者，每十人引見轉資後遣。」 詔可。
In year 6 an edict noted that when cavalry was sent out to garrison in midsummer, many horses died on the road. Henceforth dispatch should run from the eighth month through the second month." Another edict ordered that because early-spring miasma afflicted Guangnan, frontier garrison troops were temporarily to rest in healthier country. Soldiers returning from garrison beyond the ranges were granted two months' rest." Li Zhaoliang memorialized that under the old system, before armies were dispatched they were presented to the throne, tested in battle formation, and squad leaders were promoted and appointed. When there was no time for battle tests, he asked that strong men with proven martial skill be chosen, that every ten be presented for audience after rank rotation, and then dispatched. The court approved.
69
時契丹使來議關南地，朝廷經制河北武備，議者欲增兵屯。 程琳自大名府徙安撫陝西，上言曰：「河朔地方數千里，連城三十六，民物繁庶，川原坦平。 自景德以前，邊數有警，官軍雖眾，罕有成功。 蓋定州、真定府、高陽關三路之兵，形勢不接，召發之際，交錯非便。 況建全魏以製北方，而兵隸定州、真定府路，其勢倒置。 請以河朔兵為四路，以鎮、定十州軍為一路，合兵十萬人； 高陽關十一州軍為一路，合兵八萬人； 滄、霸七州軍為一路，合兵四萬人； 北京九州軍為一路，合兵八萬人。 其駐泊鈐轄、都監各掌訓練，使士卒習聞主將號令，急緩即成部分。」
At the time Khitan envoys came to negotiate the Guannan territories, and as the court reorganized Hebei's defenses, some officials urged larger garrisons. Cheng Lin, transferred from Daming Prefecture to pacification commissioner of Shaanxi, memorialized that the Yellow River north stretched thousands of li across thirty-six linked cities, with abundant people and goods on level plains. Before the Jingde era the border had alarm after alarm, yet for all their numbers government troops rarely won. The armies of Dingzhou, Zhen Ding Prefecture, and Gaoyang Pass did not connect in deployment, so mobilization sent them crisscrossing one another to little effect. Moreover Wei had been built whole to check the north, yet its troops belonged to the Dingzhou and Zhen Ding routes—the military balance was upside down. He proposed dividing Yellow River north troops into four routes: the ten prefectures and armies of Zhen and Ding as one route, totaling one hundred thousand men; eleven prefectures and armies of Gaoyang Pass as one route, totaling eighty thousand men; Cang and Ba seven prefectures and armies as one route, totaling forty thousand men; Northern Capital nine prefectures and armies as one route, totaling eighty thousand men. Stationed supervisory commissioners and garrison supervisors would train the men until they knew their commander's orders by heart and could deploy at a moment's notice."
70
天子下其章，判大名府夏竦奏：「鎮、定二路當內外之衝，萬一有警，各籍重兵，控守要害，迭為應援。 若合為一，則兵柄太重，減之則不足以備敵。 又滄州久隸高陽關，道里頗近，瀕海斥鹵，地形沮洳，東北三百里，野無民居，非賊蹊徑。 萬一有警，可決漳、御河東灌，塘澱隔越，賊兵未易奔衝，不必別建一路。 惟北京為河朔根本，宜宿重兵，控扼大河南北，內則屏蔽王畿，外則聲援諸路。 請以大名府、澶、懷、衛、濱、棣、德、博州、通利軍建為北京路。 四路各置都總管、副都總管一人，鈐轄二人，都監四人。 平時只以河北安撫使總製諸路，有警，即北京置四路行營都總管，擇嘗任兩府重臣為之。」
The emperor forwarded the memorial. Xia Song, administering Daming Prefecture, replied that the Zhen and Ding routes stood at the inner-outer junction; in an emergency each should keep heavy troops on the key points and alternate in mutual support. Merge them and military authority would be too concentrated; cut them and they would not suffice against the enemy. Moreover Cangzhou had long belonged to Gaoyang Pass. The coast was saline, the ground boggy, and for three hundred li to the northeast there was no habitation—it was no enemy avenue. In an emergency the Zhang and Imperial rivers could be opened to flood the east; ponds and marshlands would block passage, and enemy troops could not easily break through—there was no need for a separate route. Only the Northern Capital was the foundation of the Yellow River north. Heavy troops there could command the river north and south, shield the capital within, and support every route without. He proposed establishing Daming Prefecture, Chan, Huai, Wei, Bin, Di, De, Bo, and Tongli Army as the Northern Capital Route. Each of the four routes should have one overall commander and one deputy, two supervisory commissioners, and four garrison supervisors. In peacetime the Hebei pacification commissioner would govern all routes; in an emergency a four-route campaign overall commander would be posted at the Northern Capital, chosen from a former grand councillor of both bureaus."
71
議未決，竦入為樞密使，賈昌朝判大名府，復命規度。 昌朝請如竦議，惟保州沿邊巡檢並雄、霸、滄州界河二司兵馬，國初以來，拓邊最號強勁，今未有所隸，請立沿邊巡檢司隸定州路，界河司隸高陽關路。
Before the debate was settled, Xia Song entered the Bureau of Military Affairs and Jia Changchao was assigned Daming Prefecture; both were ordered to survey the plan again. Changchao endorsed Xia Song's plan, but asked that Baozhou's border patrol inspectors and the two Border River offices of Xiong, Ba, and Cang—the strongest frontier troops since the founding, now unassigned—be placed under a Border Patrol Office on the Dingzhou Route and a Border River Office on the Gaoyang Pass Route.
72
於是下詔分河北兵為四路：北京、澶、懷、衛、德、博、濱、棣州、通利保、順軍合為大名府路； 瀛、莫、雄、霸、貝、冀、滄州、永靜、乾寧、保定、信安軍合為高陽關路； 鎮、邢、洺、相、趙、磁州合為真定府路； 定、保、深、祁州、北平、廣信、安肅、順安、永寧軍合為定州路。 凡兵屯將領，悉如其議。 韓琦謂兵勢大分，請合定州、真定府為一，高陽關、大名府為一。 朝廷以更寘甫新，不報。 詔四路兵依陝西遣部將往來按閱。 又詔自今兵戍回，揀充捧日、龍衛、天武、神衛等軍。
An edict then divided Hebei troops into four routes: the Northern Capital, Chan, Huai, Wei, De, Bo, Bin, and Di prefectures plus Tongli, Bao, and Shun armies became the Daming Prefecture Route; Ying, Mo, Xiong, Ba, Bei, Ji, and Cang prefectures plus Yongjing, Qianning, Baoding, and Xin'an armies became the Gaoyang Pass Route; Zhen, Xing, Ming, Xiang, Zhao, and Ci prefectures became the Zhen Ding Prefecture Route; Ding, Bao, Shen, and Qi prefectures plus Beiping, Guangxin, Ansu, Shun'an, and Yongning armies became the Dingzhou Route. All troop deployments and commanders followed the plan. Han Qi argued that the forces were too scattered and asked to merge Dingzhou with Zhen Ding Prefecture and Gaoyang Pass with Daming Prefecture. The court, having just put the new arrangement in place, did not reply. An edict ordered the four routes, following the Shaanxi model, to send staff officers back and forth on inspection tours. Another edict ordered that troops returning from garrison rotation be selected to fill the Sun-Bearing, Dragon Guard, Heavenly Martial, Divine Guard, and other Palace Guard armies.
73
皇祐元年，發禁兵十指揮戍京東，以歲饑備盜。 詔陝西邊警既息，土兵可備守禦，東軍屯戍者徙內郡，以省餉饋。 二年，詔：「如聞河北諸屯將校，有老疾廢事而不知退，有善部勒著勞效而不得進，帥臣、監司審察，密以名聞。」
In Huangyou 1 ten Forbidden Army companies were sent to garrison Jingdong against famine-year banditry. An edict noted that with Shaanxi border alarms quiet, local troops could handle defense, and East Army garrison troops were moved to inner prefectures to save supplies. In year 2 an edict reported that some Hebei garrison officers were aged, ill, and useless yet refused to retire, while others commanded well with proven merit yet could not advance; circuit commanders and supervisory commissioners were to investigate and report names in secret.
74
四年，詔：「戍兵歲滿，有司按籍，遠者前二月，近者前一月遣代，戍還本管聽休。」 五年，又詔：「廣西戍兵及二年而未得代者罷歸，鈐轄司以土兵歲一代之。」 自儂智高之亂，戍兵逾二萬四千，至是聽還，而令土兵代戍。
In year 4 an edict ordered that when garrison troops completed their term, the responsible office check registers and dispatch replacements two months ahead for distant posts and one month for near ones; returning garrison troops were to rest at their home command. In year 5 another edict ordered that Guangxi garrison troops who had served two years without relief be sent home, with the supervisory commissioner's office sending local troops annually to replace them. Since Nong Zhigao's rebellion garrison troops had exceeded twenty-four thousand; now they were permitted to return home and local troops were ordered to take over the garrisons.
75
治平二年，發兵指揮二十，分戍永興軍、邠州、河中府，仍遣官專掌訓練。 三年，詔員僚直、龍衛毋出戍，神衛嘗留十指揮在營。 又詔：「頃以東兵戍嶺南，冒犯瘴癘，得還者十無五六。 自今歲滿，以江、淮教閱忠節、威果代之。」
In Zhiping 2 twenty army companies were dispatched to garrison Yongxing Army, Bin Prefecture, and Hezhong Prefecture, with officials specially assigned to training. In year 3 an edict ordered Attendant Platoon and Dragon Guard not to rotate on garrison duty, and Divine Guard to keep ten companies in camp. Another edict noted that East Army troops recently garrisoned in Lingnan had endured miasma, and fewer than five or six in ten returned. Henceforth when terms expired they were to be replaced by the Jianghuai review units Loyalty and Valiant Fruit."
76
神宗嗣位，軍政多所更革。 熙寧初，嘗與輔臣論河北守備。 韓絳等曰：「漢、唐重兵皆在京師，其邊戍裁足守備而已。 故邊無橫費，強本弱末，其勢亦順。 開元後，有事四夷，權臣皆節制一方，重兵在西北。 天寶之亂，由京師空虛，賊臣得以肆志也。」 帝曰：「邊上老人亦謂今之邊兵過於昔時，其勢如倒植浮圖。 朕亦每以此為念也。」 三年，詔：「諸路戍兵，畸零不成部伍，致乖紀律，或互遣郡兵，更相往來，道路艱梗，宜悉罷之，易以上番全軍或就糧兵為戍； 當遣者並隸總管司，以詔令從事。」
When Shenzong succeeded, military administration underwent many reforms. Early in Xining he once discussed Hebei defenses with his chief ministers. Han Jiang and others said that Han and Tang had kept heavy troops in the capital while frontier garrisons were just enough for defense. The frontier therefore had no runaway expense; strengthening the root and weakening the branches, the disposition was sound. After Kaiyuan, when affairs arose with the four barbarians, powerful ministers each commanded a region and heavy troops gathered in the northwest. The An Lushan rebellion arose because the capital was empty and treacherous ministers could indulge their will. The emperor replied that old men on the frontier also said today's border troops exceeded those of old—the disposition was like an inverted pagoda. He said he thought of it constantly. In year 3 an edict ordered that scattered circuit garrison troops who failed to form proper units and broke discipline, or prefectures that swapped troops back and forth and clogged the roads, be abolished and replaced with upper-rotation whole armies or grain-paid troops; those dispatched were all to fall under the overall commander's office and act by edict."
77
舊制，河北軍馬不出戍，帝慮其驕惰，五年，始命河北、河東兵更戍，減其一歲以優之。 其年，詔徙河州軍馬駐熙州，熙州軍馬駐通遠軍，追召易集，可省極邊軍儲。 帝嘗曰：「窮吾國用者，冗兵也。 其議徙軍於內郡，以弓箭手代之，冀省邊費。」
Under the old system Hebei horse and troops did not rotate on garrison duty; fearing they had grown proud and lazy, in year 5 the emperor first ordered Hebei and Hedong troops into garrison rotation, reducing the term by one year as a favor. That year an edict moved Hezhou horse troops to Xizhou and Xizhou horse troops to Tongyuan Army so they could be summoned quickly and frontier stores saved. The emperor once said that what drained the treasury was superfluous troops. The court debated moving troops to inner prefectures and replacing them with archer militia to save frontier expense."
78
九年，詔：「京師兵比留十萬，餘以備四方屯戍，數甚減少。 自今戍兵非應發京師者勿遣。」 其後，言者屢請損河北冗兵，詔立額止留禁兵七萬，而京東增置武衛軍四十二營，訓練精銳，皆以分隸河北，而以三千人散戍東南杭、揚、江寧諸州，以備盜賊。 嶺外惟廣、韶、南雄州常有戍兵千人，桂林以瘴癘，間徙軍於全、永。 元豐中，或請遣陝西路騎軍五七百戍桂林者，詔遣在京軍馬以戍之。
In year 9 an edict noted that the capital kept one hundred thousand troops while the rest supplied garrisons everywhere—a number greatly diminished. Henceforth capital garrison troops were not to be dispatched except where the capital itself should send them." Thereafter memorialists repeatedly asked to cut Hebei's superfluous troops. An edict fixed a quota of seventy thousand Forbidden Army, while Jingdong added forty-two Martial Guard camps of sharp troops assigned to Hebei, and three thousand men scattered to garrison Hang, Yang, and Jiangning against bandits. Beyond the ranges only Guang, Shao, and Nanxiong regularly kept one thousand garrison troops; because of miasma at Guilin troops were occasionally moved to Quan and Yong. In Yuanfeng some requested five to seven hundred Shaanxi cavalry for Guilin; an edict ordered capital horse and troops sent instead.
79
元祐元年六月，右諫議大夫孫覺言：「將兵之禁，宜可少解，而責所在守臣與州郡兵官，可令乘時廣行召募，稍補前日之額。 循祖宗之法，使屯駐三邊及川、廣、福建諸道州軍，往來道路，足以服習勞苦，南北番戍，足以均其勞佚。」 詔：「陝西、河東、廣南將兵不輪戍他路，河北輪近裏一將赴河東，府界、諸路逐將與不隸將兵，並更互差撥出戍別路。 赴三路者差全將或半將，餘路聽全指揮分差，仍不過半將。」
In Yuanyou 1, sixth month, Right Remonstrance Officer Sun Jue argued that the ban on frontier recruitment should be slightly relaxed, while local officials and prefectural military officers were held responsible to recruit widely and gradually restore former quotas. Following ancestral law, troops should be stationed on the three frontiers and in Sichuan, Guang, Fujian, and other circuits so that travel hardened them and north-south garrison rotation equalized labor and rest." An edict ordered that Shaanxi, Hedong, and Guangnan frontier armies not rotate to other circuits; that Hebei send one near-interior regiment to Hedong; and that Capital District and circuit regiments and non-regiment troops cross-assign for garrison on other circuits. For the three frontier circuits whole or half regiments were sent; other circuits could divide by whole companies, but not beyond half a regiment."
80
十月，樞密院言：「東南一十三將，自團將以來，未曾均定出戍路分，及不隸將兵內有出戍窠名數少、所管指揮數多去處，未得均當。 欲除廣南東、西兩路駐紮三將只充本路守禦差使，虔州第六將、全、永州第九將準備廣南東、西路緩急勾抽策應，並不差戍他路外，餘八將及不隸將兵依均定路分都鈐轄司駐泊，分擘差使。 內將兵、不隸將兵路分，卻於自京差撥步軍前去補戍，候將兵回日，卻行勾抽。」 從之。
In the tenth month the Bureau of Military Affairs reported that the southeast's thirteen regiments had never had garrison assignments equalized since regiment command was established, and that some non-regiment troops with few quota slots were sending too many companies—the burden was uneven. It proposed that except for three regiments in Guangnan East and West serving only local defense, and the sixth at Qianzhou and ninth at Quan and Yongzhou held ready for Guangnan emergencies—all exempt from rotating elsewhere—the remaining eight regiments and non-regiment troops divide duties by equalized assignment at supervisory commissioner stations. Where regiment and non-regiment troops were assigned by circuit, capital foot troops would fill the garrison until the regiment troops returned, then be withdrawn. The court approved.
81
十二月，廣西經略安撫使、都鈐轄司言：「乞除桂、宜、融、欽、廉州係將、不係將馬步軍輪差赴邕州極邊水土惡弱砦鎮監柵及巡防並都同巡檢等處，並乞依邕州條例，一年一替； 其餘諸州差往邕州永平、古萬、太平、橫山、遷隆砦鎮及左、右江溪洞巡檢並欽州如昔峒駐紮抵棹砦，並二年一替； 其諸州巡檢下，一年一替。」 從之。
In the twelfth month the Guangxi pacification commissioner and overall supervisory commissioner's office asked that horse and foot troops of Gui, Yi, Rong, Qin, and Lian prefectures, both regiment and non-regiment, rotated to Yongzhou's worst frontier forts, stockades, patrol stations, and joint patrol inspectors follow Yongzhou rules on one-year rotation; other prefectures sent to Yongzhou's Yongping, Guwan, Taiping, Hengshan, and Qianlong forts, the left and right river patrol inspectors, and Qinzhou's Ruxi stockade follow two-year rotation; and under each prefecture's patrol inspectors, one-year rotation. The court approved.
82
二年，河東經略安撫使曾布言：「河外上番四將，每將內抽減步軍赴嵐、石州，分擘沿河等處差使，代開封府界等五將兵馬歸營； 及赴岢嵐、火山軍駐紮，代東兵兩指揮赴太原府就食。」 從之。 是月，樞密院言：「昨為熙河蘭會路戍兵數多，尋以年滿，二千餘人節次抽減歸營，兼本路即目見管戍兵比額尚多一千三百餘人。 今朝旨令熙河蘭會路都總管司遇本路緩急闕人，許於秦鳳路勾抽一將應副。 緣本路即目事宜，慮向秋闕人防守，欲熙河蘭會路都總管司遇本路緩急闕人，聽全勾抽秦鳳路九將應副差使，從京東差步軍五指揮赴永興軍、商、虢州權駐紮，以備秦鳳路勾抽。」 從之。
In year 2 Hedong pacification commissioner Zeng Bu reported that the four upper-rotation regiments beyond the river would each draw down foot troops to Lan and Shi prefectures, divide duties along the river and elsewhere, and replace the five Capital District regiments so their horse and troops could return to camp; and garrison at Kelan and Huoshan armies, replacing two East Army companies sent to Taiyuan Prefecture for provisions. The court approved. That month the Bureau reported that because Xihe Lanzhou Circuit garrison troops had been too numerous, more than two thousand had been gradually withdrawn as terms expired, yet the circuit still exceeded quota by more than thirteen hundred. The current imperial order allowed the Xihe Lanzhou overall commander's office, when the circuit lacked men in an emergency, to withdraw one regiment from Qinfeng Circuit for support. Fearing a shortage for autumn defense, it asked that when Xihe Lanzhou lacked men in an emergency the overall commander's office be allowed to withdraw all nine Qinfeng regiments, and that five Jingdong foot companies be posted temporarily at Yongxing Army, Shang, and Guo to cover any Qinfeng withdrawal. The court approved.
83
紹聖四年，樞密院備呂惠卿所言：「『比緣邊牒報，西界點集本路叛卒。 見闕守御人兵，兼土兵未填闕額，並蕃兵弓箭手比元豐元年少二千二百有餘，東兵馬步軍比元豐四年、七年少十六指揮。 乞於東步兵人內差撥一十六指揮添助防守。』 兼本路自去歲泛差過軍馬三十六指揮，比之他路，已是倍多，即今戍兵二萬六千餘人，比之元豐四年人數，亦不至闕少，自可那融使喚。」 詔：「鄜延路都總管司詳此照會，如遇賊兵犯塞，或本路舉兵，委是闕人，其年滿人指揮兵級，令相度事宜，權留三兩月，候事宜稍息遣還。」 是月，詔：「河東路總管司那融替換上番兵馬，無令戍邊日久，致有勞弊。 如無人替換，候春月事宜稍息，即先後上番四將抽減一番兵馬歸營。」
In Shaosheng 4 the Bureau reported Lü Huiqing's words: "Recent border dispatches reported the western frontier massing this circuit's defectors. Defensive manpower is lacking; local troops have not filled their quotas; fan militia archers are more than twenty-two hundred fewer than in the first year of Yuanfeng; East Army horse and foot are sixteen companies fewer than in the fourth year of Yuanfeng and 7. I request dispatching sixteen East Army foot companies to reinforce the defense. Moreover this circuit since last year had been generally assigned thirty-six companies—already double other circuits. Current garrison troops exceeded twenty-six thousand, no fewer than in the fourth year of Yuanfeng; they could be flexibly redeployed. An edict ordered the Fuyan Circuit overall commander's office to examine this notification: if bandits invaded the border or the circuit raised troops and truly lacked men, company ranks whose terms had expired were to assess the situation and be temporarily retained two or three months, then sent home once affairs had quieted. That month an edict ordered the Hedong Circuit overall commander's office to flexibly redeploy and rotate upper-rotation horse and troops, lest long border service bring exhaustion. If no replacements were available, when spring came and affairs had quieted, the four upper-rotation regiments were to draw down one rotation of horse and troops in sequence and return them to camp."
84
元符二年閏九月，遣秦鳳戍兵十指揮應副熙河新邊戍守。 十一月，以呂惠卿奏，減鄜延戍兵五十指揮。 三年八月，詔遣虎翼軍六千戍熙河路，令代蕃兵及弓箭手還家休息。 十二月，詔邊帥減額外戍兵。
In the intercalary ninth month of Yuanfu 2, ten Qinfeng garrison companies were dispatched to support defense of the new Xihe frontier. In the eleventh month, on Lü Huiqing's memorial, Fuyan garrison troops were reduced by fifty companies. In the eighth month of year 3, an edict dispatched six thousand Tiger Wing troops to garrison Xihe Circuit, relieving fan militia and archer militia to return home and rest. In the twelfth month, an edict ordered frontier commanders to cut excess garrison troops.
85
崇寧四年，詔：「廣南瘴癘之鄉，東西雖殊，氣候無異。 西路戍兵二年一代，而東路獨限三年，代不如期，有隕於瘴癘者，朕甚惻然。 其東路亦令二年一替，前期半年差人，如違，以違制論。」
In Chongning 4 an edict noted that Guangnan was a land of miasma; though east and west differed, the climate was the same. Western route garrison troops rotated every two years, but the eastern route alone was limited to three; when relief did not come on schedule, some fell to miasma—the emperor was deeply pained. The eastern route too was ordered to rotate every two years, with relief dispatched six months in advance; violations would be punished as breaches of regulations."
86
大觀二年六月，詔：「陝西諸路，自罷兵以來，數年於此，兵未曾徹。 蓋緣邊將怯懦，坐費邊儲，戍卒勞苦。 可除新邊的確人外，餘並依元豐罷邊事日戍額人數外，餘並直抽歸營。 有司不得占吝，如違，以違制論。」 又詔：「東南除見兵額外，帥府別屯二千人，望郡一千人。 帥府置奉錢五百一指揮，以威捷為名； 望郡奉錢四百一指揮，以威勝為名； 帥府三指揮、望郡一指揮各奉錢三百，以全捷為名：並以步軍五百人為額。」 三年六月，詔：「國家承平百五十年，東南一方，地大人眾，已見兵寡勢弱，非持久之道。 可除見今兵額外，帥府別屯兵士二千人，望郡一千人。」
In the sixth month of Daguan 2 an edict noted that in the Shaanxi circuits, several years had passed since the ceasefire, yet troops had never been withdrawn. Frontier generals had grown cowardly, idly draining frontier stores while garrison soldiers endured hardship. Except for men at designated posts on the new frontier, all troops beyond the Yuanfeng ceasefire-day garrison quota were to be drawn straight back to camp. Responsible offices were forbidden to hoard them; violations would be punished as breaches of regulations. Another edict ordered that in the southeast, beyond the current troop quota, command prefectures should station two thousand men separately and watch prefectures one thousand. Command prefectures were to establish one company at five hundred pay, named Tiger Swift; watch prefectures one company at four hundred pay, named Tiger Victor; command prefectures three companies and watch prefectures one company each at three hundred pay, named All Swift—each with a quota of five hundred foot soldiers. In the sixth month of year 3 an edict observed that the state had been at peace for a hundred and fifty years; the southeast was vast and populous, yet its troops were few and its position weak—not a sustainable course. Beyond the current troop quota, command prefectures were to station two thousand men separately and watch prefectures one thousand."
87
宣和二年，詔河北軍馬與陝西、河東更戍。
In Xuanhe 2 an edict ordered Hebei horse and troops into garrison rotation with Shaanxi and Hedong.
88
三年正月，詔：「河北軍馬與陝西、河東更戍，非元豐法，遂罷其令。 應拖後人並與免罪，依舊收管。」 閏五月，江、浙、淮南等路宣撫使童貫奏：「勘會江南東路、兩浙東西路各有東南一將，平日未嘗訓練武藝，臨敵必誤驅策。 昨睦寇初發，天兵未到已前，遣令上項將兵捕賊，遂致敗衄，亡失軍兵甚多。 今睦賊討平之後，脅從叛亡者方始還業，非增戍兵鎮遏，無以潛消凶暴。 臣今擬留戍兵二萬五千五百七十八人，分置江南東路、兩浙東西路州軍防把，一年滿替出軍一次，依平蠻故事，每月別給錢三百，歲給鞋錢一千。 其兵並隸本路安撫司統轄訓練。」 詔從之。 是年，權知婺州楊應誠奏：「凡屯戍將兵，須隸守臣，使兵民之任歸一，則號令不二，然後可以立事。」 詔從之。 續有旨改從舊制。
In the first month of year 3 an edict declared that rotating Hebei horse and troops with Shaanxi and Hedong was not Yuanfeng law, and the order was abolished. Men who had lagged behind were all exempted from punishment and kept under control as before. In the intercalary fifth month Tong Guan, pacification commissioner of the Jiang, Zhe, and Huainan circuits, memorialized that Jiangnan East and the two Liang-Zhe circuits each held one Southeast regiment that was never trained in ordinary times and would surely be mishandled in battle. When the Mu rebels first rose, before imperial troops arrived these regiments were sent against them, suffered defeat, and lost many soldiers. Now that the Mu rebels had been pacified and coerced followers and fugitives were only just returning to their livelihoods, without increased garrison troops to hold them down, violence could not be quietly suppressed. He proposed retaining twenty-five thousand five hundred seventy-eight garrison troops in defensive posts across Jiangnan East and the two Liang-Zhe circuits, one-year terms with one outbound rotation, following the pacifying-the-Yao precedent, with three hundred cash monthly and one thousand for shoes yearly. These troops were all placed under their circuit pacification commissioner's office for unified command and training. The court approved. That year Yang Yingcheng, acting prefect of Wuzhou, memorialized that all garrison regiment troops should be subordinate to the prefect so military and civil responsibility rested in one hand, orders were undivided, and affairs could be accomplished. The court approved. Subsequently an imperial order restored the old system.
89
四年，臣僚言：「東軍遠戍四川，皆京師及府界有武藝無過之人。 既至川路，分屯散處，多不成隊，而差使無時，委致勞弊。 蓋四川土兵既有詔不得差使，則其役並著東軍，實為偏重。 若令四川應有土兵、禁軍與東軍一同差使，不惟勞逸得均，抑亦不失熙、豐置東軍彈壓蜀人兼備蠻寇之意。」 詔本路鈐轄、轉運兩司公同相度利害以聞。
In year 4 officials reported that East Army troops garrisoning Sichuan from afar were all skilled men without fault from the capital and Capital District. Once in Sichuan they were scattered in small garrisons, often failing to form proper units, while assignments came at any time, exhausting them. Because Sichuan local troops were barred by edict from assignments, all duties fell on the East Army—a truly disproportionate burden. If Sichuan's local troops, Forbidden Army, and East Army shared assignments alike, labor and rest would be balanced and the Xining and Yuanfeng intent of posting East Army to intimidate Shu while guarding against barbarian raids would be preserved. The court ordered the circuit supervisory and transport commissioners jointly to assess the matter and report.
90
五年，制置所奏：「江、浙增屯戍兵，相度節鎮增添兩指揮處，餘州各一指揮，各不隸將。 內兩指揮處，將一指揮以威果為名，一指揮以全捷為名，餘州並以威果為名。」 從之。
In year 5 the administrative commission reported that for increased garrison troops in Jiang and Zhe, military-importance prefectures would add two companies and other prefectures one each, none subordinate to regiments. Where two companies were added, one was named Valiant Fruit and one All Swift; other prefectures all used Valiant Fruit. The court approved.
91
七年三月，詔：「廣南東、西路地遠山險，盜賊間有竊發。 內郡戍兵往彼屯守，多緣瘴癘疾病，不任捕盜，又不諳知山川道里、林壑曲折，故盜不能禁。 可令每巡檢下招置土人健勇輕捷者，參戍兵之半，互相關防，易於擒捕。 令樞密院行之。」
In the third month of year 7 an edict noted that Guangnan East and West circuits were remote and mountainous, and bandits occasionally arose. Garrison troops from inner prefectures posted there often fell to miasma, could not capture bandits, and did not know the mountain paths, forests, and winding valleys—so bandits could not be suppressed. Each patrol inspector was to recruit brave, agile local men equal to half the garrison strength for mutual supervision, making capture easier. The Bureau of Military Affairs was ordered to implement it."
92
七月，河北東路宣撫使李綱奏：「臣兩具論，以七月七日指揮止諸路防秋之兵為不可，必蒙聖察。 今宣撫司既無兵可差，不知朝廷既止諸路防秋之兵，將何應副。 兼遠方人兵各已在路，又已借請數月，本路漕司、州縣又已預備半年、百日之糧，今一放散，皆成虛費，而實要兵用處無可摘那，深恐誤國大計。」 詔依所奏。
In the seventh month Li Gang, pacification commissioner of Hebei East Route, memorialized that he had twice argued the seventh-month order stopping autumn-defense troops on all circuits was wrong and trusted the throne had taken note. The pacification office now had no troops to dispatch; once the court had stopped autumn-defense troops on all circuits, what support would be provided? Moreover distant troops were already on the road and months of supplies had been drawn; the circuit transport office and prefectures and counties had already prepared half a year and a hundred days of grain—dispersing them now would waste everything, yet where troops were truly needed there were none to redeploy; he deeply feared harming the state's grand strategy." The court approved as memorialized.
93
紹興之初，群盜四起，有若岳飛、劉光世諸大將領兵尤重，隨宜調發，屯泊要害，控製捍蔽，是亦權宜之利矣。 厥後樞府、帥臣屢言久戍之弊，甚者或十年或二十年而不更，尤可閔念。 蓋出戍者皆已老瘁，而諸州所留，類皆少壯及工匠，三司多以坐甲為名，占留違制，有終身未嘗一日戍者，於是命帥臣、鈐轄司置諸州尺籍，定其姓名，依期更戍。 帥臣又言：「有如貴溪戍兵，三月一更，繇貴溪至池州，往返一千五百里，即是一月在途，徒有勞費。 願以一年終更。」
At the start of the Shaoxing era bandits rose on all sides; great generals such as Yue Fei and Liu Guangshi led especially heavy forces, dispatched them flexibly, and stationed them at key points to control and shield the realm—expedients that served their purpose. Thereafter the Bureau and frontier commanders repeatedly warned of the harms of long garrison service; in extreme cases men went ten or twenty years without rotation—a matter especially deserving lament. Those on outbound garrison were aged and exhausted, while prefectures kept mostly the young and strong and artisans; the Three Departments often unlawfully hoarded men under idle-duty rolls—some never garrisoned a single day in their lives. Commanders and supervisory commissioners were therefore ordered to establish roster registers in each prefecture, fix every name, and rotate garrison on schedule. Frontier commanders also reported that Guixi garrison troops, for example, rotated every three months; from Guixi to Chizhou the round trip was fifteen hundred li—effectively a month on the road, nothing but wasted labor and expense. They asked for one full year per rotation."
94
今考紹興間邊境弗靖，故以大軍屯戍，而踐更之期，近者三月，遠者三年。 逮和議既成，諸軍移屯者漸歸營矣，惟防秋仍用移屯更戍之法，沿邊備禦亦倚重焉。 乾道、淳熙、紹熙之際，一遵其制。 開禧初，復議用兵，駐紮諸兵始復移屯。 和議再成，邊地一二要郡雖循舊貫，其諸駐紮更戍之法不講，而常屯之兵益多。 逮夫端平破川蜀，咸淳失襄樊、裂淮甸，疆宇蹙而兵法壞。 叛將賣降，庸夫秉鉞，間有圖國忘死之士，則遙製於權奸，移屯更戍，靡有定方。 於是戍卒疲於奔命，不戰而斃者眾矣。 至若將校之部曲，諸軍之名號，士卒之眾寡，詳列於屯駐者，茲不重錄云。
In the Shaoxing era the border was unsettled, so large armies were garrisoned; rotation terms ranged from three months nearby to three years distant. Once peace was made, armies on relocation garrison gradually returned to camp; only autumn defense still used relocation and rotation, on which frontier defense also relied. During the Qiandao, Chunxi, and Shaoxi reigns the system was uniformly followed. Early in Kaixi, when war was again debated, stationed armies once more began relocation garrison. When peace was made again, though one or two key frontier prefectures still followed old practice, rotation methods for stationed troops were neglected and permanently garrisoned troops grew ever more numerous. By Duanping Sichuan was lost; by Xianchun Xiangyang and Fan fell and the Huai plain was split—the realm shrank and military methods collapsed. Rebel generals sold out and surrendered; mediocrities held command; where men who would die for the state appeared, they were controlled from afar by powerful traitors—relocation and rotation had no fixed rule. Garrison soldiers were therefore exhausted running to and fro, and many died without ever fighting. Officers' retinues, army names, and troop strengths—all detailed in the garrison roster—are not repeated here.